Stephen Hawking

Like many people, I first learned of Stephen Hawking through A Brief History of Time. I don't remember when I first read it, but I do know that it was the beginning of my interest in science for laypeople. Had Hawking's book not been as thought-provoking as it was, I probably would have never attempted another. The ability to communicate complicated ideas in an accessible style is truly a gift.

In 2010, the Language Testing Research Colloquium (LTRC) was held at Cambridge University. It was my first (and only) time in England, and it was hard to escape the feeling of history as I wandered around the campus. We were staying in rooms at the Murray Edwards College, and would walk back and forth between our rooms and the conference venue each day. I seem to recall passing a building (or set of buildings) dedicated to mathematics and theoretical physics, wondering if Dr. Hawking had an office somewhere inside.

Stephen Hawking passed away on March 14, 2018.