The University of Cambridge has announced the retirement of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking from teaching. Hawking suffers from a motor neuron disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that has left him almost paralysed. He will hand over the Lucasian Chair of Mathematics to a successor in next year. The 67-year old professor will however continue his research activities in the university. He offered his service to the university for a period of 30 years.

 

The ailing physicist has contributed much to the field of scientific research. He is regarded as one of the most famous cosmologists in the world. The popular science book written by Stephen Hawking under the title of 'A Brief History of Time' has earned him much of name and fame. According to the publisher of the book, Bantam Dell, about 9 million copies were sold. The Lucasian Chair of Mathematics is a very prestigious and was once occupied by Isaac Newton in the 17th century.