Events in Physics
EOI deadline: 20 June 2019
Full application : 24th July 2019
The Stephen Hawking fellowships will support and develop the next generation of visionary scientists in theoretical physics at the beginning of their career. UKRI are providing funding for five annual calls delivered jointly by EPSRC and STFC. Round one is now open and intentions to submit must be received by 20th June 2019.
In recognition of Stephen Hawking鈥檚 exceptional contributions to scientific knowledge and popularisation of science, UK Research and Innovation will support and develop the next generation of visionary scientists in theoretical physics and areas of mathematics and computer sciences which underpin and contribute to the development of theoretical physics at the beginning of their careers through this new funding opportunity. Up to 拢15 million will be available for up to five annual calls for these fellowships, between 2019 and 2024 with each call to looking fund up to 10 fellowships.
The fellowships will provide up to 4 years鈥� funding for fellows with a strong passion for curiosity driven science that seek to challenge current assumptions, advance scientific knowledge and inspire the public through their discoveries. The funding will support fellows to engage in training on public engagement and scientific communication to develop the skills to explain complex scientific ideas to wider audiences and with the aim of continuing Stephen Hawking鈥檚 work in bringing science into popular culture.
The objectives of the scheme are:
To fund new high quality research and support the development and training of early career researchers in the field of theoretical physics.
To train a cohort of researchers with the skills to continue a legacy of public engagement in the field of theoretical physics.
Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, Professor Sir Mark Walport said:
鈥淧rofessor Hawking combined a fierce desire for knowledge with a rare ability for communicating both the wonder of our universe and the value in understanding it. The Stephen Hawking Fellowship will continue his legacy by supporting a new generation of scientists too push the boundaries of knowledge and inspire the public with their discoveries.鈥漈he Stephen Hawking Fellowship scheme will be delivered jointly by EPSRC and STFC. For the first round, proposals are welcomed from all areas of theoretical physics and areas of mathematics and computer sciences which underpin and contribute to the development of theoretical physics. In future calls for Stephen Hawking Prize Fellowships, the research scope may be evolved to reflect emerging trends and funding in the area of theoretical physics.
The scope of the fellowships extends beyond Stephen Hawking鈥檚 active areas of research such as cosmology, general relativity and quantum gravity and UKRI wish to invite other aspects of theoretical physics such as classical gravity, string theory, statistical physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, particle astrophysics, theoretical astronomy, solar and planetary physics. Proposals are also welcome from across the fundamental mathematical and computer sciences where the applicant can demonstrate that the research will underpin these approaches and can directly build capability in the area of theoretical physics, such as quantum computing.