Stephen Hawking Turned Down Knighthood

schliz writes "Professor Stephen Hawking has revealed that he turned down the offer of a knighthood over 10 years ago. The scientist has released correspondence showing that he was approached with the offer of a knighthood but refused it on principle. Professor Hawking has also revealed correspondence showing harsh criticism of what he sees as the UK government's mismanagement of science funding. He is particularly critical of the merger of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils."

Comments

Re:Ixnay on the Itlestay

[youthoftoday]

I reckon there's a difference between a title and a position. Yes, 'professor' is a title, but it's a professional one. 'Sir' isn't.

Re:What do you get with knighthood?

[Shemmie]

Only he wasn't ignored: he refused the honour.

I appreciate that now, the petition was conducted before this news broke.

Having said that, it is a norm for the UK to have less focus on rewarding people like Prof. Hawking, instead focussing on a popular celebrity - a New Labour way of showing that they are 'in touch' with the populace.

Re:What do you get with knighthood?

[caramelcarrot]

Hawking is pretty much a "popular celebrity" - there are a lot of other just as smart physicists/scientists out there. This isn't to degrade his achievements, and it's in some way useful for there to be a popular point of contact/figurehead with advanced physicsts.

Re:He is using his knighthood

[silentcoder]

That may have been true if he had done so AT THE TIME. Hawking SILENTLY rejected the knighthood many years ago, but OTHER people have been calling for him to be knighted every year. These constant requests from the public ultimately led to Hawking choosing to end the suspense by just saying that it was HIS OWN decision not to be knighted many years ago and that they can stop pestering the UK government about it.

Re:Ixnay on the Itlestay

[osu-neko]

Maybe he changed his mind. It does happen. If people's opinions were immutable, we'd be incapable of learning anything.

In America, if you're capable of learning, you're supposed to hide the fact. Demonstrating the capacity to learn is guaranteed to get to ridiculed for being a "flip-flopper". It's considered a sign of strength and character to never change you mind no matter what you learn or how circumstances change. :p