Stephen Hawking at Work to open at Science and Media Museum

For the first time outside London significant objects from Professor Hawking, acquired by the Science Museum Group in 2021, will go on display, providing insights into his remarkable life as a scientist, science communicator and as someone who lived with motor neurone disease.

The Professor's tortoiseshell glasses, specially adapted to aid communication. Pic: Science Museum Group (Image: Submitted)

Stephen Hawking at Work, opening at the National Science and Media Museum on February 9, explores the life of the world-renowned theoretical physicist. Items on display include his first synthesizer, specially adapted spectacles, even an invitation to a party for time travellers which Hawking hosted. The remarkable contents of Hawking's office, including his reference library, communications equipment, medals and memorabilia, are cared for by the Science Museum Group, with hundreds of items on its online collection. This exhibition, here in Bradford, gives people chance to see some of them up close.

Lucy Hawking said: “It’s wonderful to see items from my father’s office brought together at the National Science and Media Museum as part of a highlights display. Dad’s office was such a unique and fascinating environment. I hope this display might inspire some scientists of the future.”

Curator Dr Juan-Andres Leon added: “These notable items give a rare glimpse into Hawking’s remarkable life"..."to inspire the next generation of scientists and thinkers."

The display contains one of only five known copies of Hawking’s PhD thesis, examining possible solutions to Einstein’s equations of general relativity to demonstrate that the universe must have originated in a single point of infinite density.

Rare copy of Prof Hawking's PhD thesis. Science Museum Group (Image: Submitted)

From bestselling books to cameos in TV shows, Hawking used a range of channels to make complex scientific theories more accessible. On display is a photograph from the set of his guest appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The exhibition also explores his experience of motor neurone disease. Initially given a two-year prognosis, Hawking lived with the disease for more than five decades. From the late 1960s he used a wheelchair and from 1986 he used a voice synthesiser after an emergency tracheotomy meant he could no longer speak. On display is the latest wheelchair he used; the Permobil F3 model. Jonathan Wood, Hawking’s graduate assistant, noted it was more than a wheelchair - it was also his voice, his ventilation support and mobile office.

Prof Hawking's Permobil wheelchair, with voice synthesiser attached. Pic: Science Museum Group (Image: Submitted)

Hawking’s innovative communication systems demonstrate how technology developed over the course of his life. Visitors can see his earliest voice synthesiser, adapted to hang on the back of his wheelchair, and his spectacles with a cheek sensor to control his voice software.