The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:
1. Our understanding of the Universe and of the laws which govern it have made enormous advances in recent years. Observations have at last begun to test in detail theoretical predictions about the structure of the Universe on the largest observable scales. However, the deepest questions about what happened at the Big Bang and why the Universe started out in a dense, rapidly expanding state, remain unanswered. Recent developments in fundamental theory, including string theory and M theory, have led to promising new approaches to these questions as well as suggestions for new observational tests.
2. Cambridge has an unparalleled record in theoretical physics and cosmology, dating back to Isaac Newton. Professor Stephen Hawking is the latest in a long line of Cambridge theorists who have made major breakthroughs in these fields. During Professor Hawking's tenure as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) has built a world-leading reputation in theoretical cosmology, a field now widely recognized to be one of the most challenging and exciting in science.
3. With a view to maintaining and building upon that reputation, the General Board have accepted a proposal from DAMTP and the Faculty Board of Mathematics that a new Centre for Theoretical Cosmology (CTC) be constituted within DAMTP to be supported by donations received to establish a Stephen Hawking Trust Fund for this purpose. The CTC will be located within existing accommodation in the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, and will involve many academic and research staff in Cambridge with research interests in these fields. A donation of £1m has already been received from Mr Dennis Avery, of which both the capital and the income has been made available to be spent over four years, and one of US$750,000 from Mr George Mitchell, of which both the capital and the income has been made available to be spent over three years. In addition Professor Hawking has approved the transfer of the expendable capital and accumulated income available under the regulations of the existing Stephen Hawking Endowment Fund for Cosmological Research into the new Stephen Hawking Trust Fund.
4. There will be strong synergy between the CTC and the recently funded Kavli Institute to be located at the Institute of Astronomy. The CTC will focus on the development of fundamental theories and their predictions whereas the Kavli Institute will focus on confronting theories with observations. The CTC and Kavli Institute will engage in many joint activities in order to ensure frequent interaction between theorists, observers, and those engaged in the analysis of observational data.
5. The Stephen Hawking Trust Fund will support studentships, postdoctoral fellowships, and visiting academics, building a strong and balanced programme of activities at the CTC. The Faculty Board have recommended to the General Board that appointment of distinguished scholars as Visiting Professors in CTC to be supported by the Fund would bring additional expertise to the Department.
6. The General Board recommend:
I. That a Stephen Hawking Trust Fund be established and governed by the regulations set out in the Schedule to this Report.
II. That, subject to the approval of Recommendation I, Stephen Hawking Visiting Professorships be established in the University and assigned to the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, to be governed by the regulations set out in the Schedule to this Report.
| 6 December 2006 | ALISON RICHARD, Vice-Chancellor | RICHARD FRIEND | KAMIAR MOHADDES |
| JOHN BELL | JACOB HEAD | ROGER PARKER | |
| TOM BLUNDELL | RICHARD HUNTER | PATRICK SISSONS | |
| WILLIAM BROWN | D. W. B. MACDONALD | I. H. WHITE | |
| M. J. DAUNTON | MELVEENA MCKENDRICK |
SCHEDULE
1. The monies received by the University to perpetuate the intellectual legacy of Professor Stephen Hawking, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, in the field of theoretical cosmology shall form a fund to be known as the Stephen Hawking Trust Fund.
2. The Fund may include both endowment and expendable capital contributed by donors. The expendable capital, and the income from the endowment shall be used to support the activities of a Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University, whose goals shall be:
| (i) | to promote research and postgraduate teaching in theoretical cosmology within the University; |
| (ii) | to co-operate with outside bodies in the promotion of research and postgraduate teaching in theoretical cosmology internationally. |
3. The administration of the Fund shall be under the control of a Board of Managers consisting of:
| (a) | the Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, who shall serve as the Chairman; |
| (b) | the Professor of Mathematical Physics (1967); |
| (c) | two Professors working in a relevant scientific discipline appointed by the Faculty Board of Mathematics; |
| (d) | one additional University Teaching Officer in the Faculty of Mathematics co-opted by the Managers; |
| (f) | Professor Stephen Hawking during his life-time; |
| (g) | up to three distinguished persons external to the University appointed by the General Board on the recommendation of the Managers. |
4. Members in classes (c) and (g) shall be appointed in the Michaelmas Term to serve for four years from 1 January following their appointment. Co-opted members in class (d) shall serve until 31 December of the year in which they are co-opted or of the year following, as the Managers shall determine at the time of their co-optation.
5. The Director of the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology shall be appointed by the General Board on the recommendation of the Managers. He or she shall hold office for four years, and shall be eligible for reappointment. The Director shall serve as Secretary to the Board.
6. The Directorship of the Centre shall be held concurrently with a University office in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics.
7. The Board shall normally meet twice each academical year.
8. After provision has been made in accordance with Regulation 2 any unexpended income of the Fund may either be accumulated for use as income in future years or be applied by the Managers at their discretion for the following purposes:
| (i) | to support one or more Stephen Hawking Visiting Professors and/or Postdoctoral Fellows; |
| (ii) | to support students accepted for the Certificate of Advanced Study in Mathematics or students approved for study towards the Ph.D. Degree within the field of theoretical physics in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics by means of Stephen Hawking Studentships. |
1. The Centre shall have an international Scientific Advisory Board, which shall consist of no fewer than four highly distinguished persons in relevant scientific disciplines appointed by the General Board on the recommendation of the Board of Managers.
2. Members of the Advisory Board shall be appointed in the Michaelmas Term to serve for four years from 1 January following their appointment.
3. The General Board, in making their appointments to the Advisory Board, shall ensure that not more than one of its members is a resident member of the University.
4. The Chairman of the Advisory Board shall be appointed by the General Board for a period of not more than three years and shall be eligible for reappointment for a period or periods of not more than three years at a time.
5. The Director of the Centre shall serve as Secretary of the Advisory Board.
6. The Advisory Board shall meet at least once every two years.
7. The duty of the Advisory Board shall be to advise the Director of the Centre on all aspects of the scientific programme and policy of the Centre.
1. One or more Stephen Hawking Visiting Professors shall be appointed by the General Board under the authority of Statute D, XV, 1(c)(iii) on the recommendation of the Managers. The tenure of a Hawking Professor shall normally be for a period of not more than six months but may, exceptionally, be for a period of not more than one year.
2. It shall be the duty of a Stephen Hawking Visiting Professor to participate in the teaching and research programme of the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology.
3. The stipend, travelling expenses, and subsistence allowance of a Stephen Hawking Visiting Professor shall be determined by the General Board on the recommendation of the Managers.
4. A Stephen Hawking Visiting Professor shall be required to reside in Cambridge unless granted leave of absence by the General Board.
1. The Managers shall decide upon the number of Stephen Hawking Postdoctoral Fellowships to be awarded each year. Appointments to these Fellowships shall be made upon the recommendation of the Director of the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, in consultation with other Managers who are University Teaching Officers in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics working in a relevant scientific discipline.
2. The Fellowships shall be tenable for periods of up to five years.
3. The annual stipend of a Fellow shall be within a range determined by the Managers, to be approved from time to time by the General Board.
4. Additional research support grants may also be awarded to Stephen Hawking Postdoctoral Fellows.
1. The Electors to a Stephen Hawking Studentship shall be the Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, the Director of the Centre of Theoretical Cosmology, and those Managers who are University Teaching Officers in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics.
2. In order to be eligible for the Studentship, a candidate must have been admitted, or be seeking admission, as a student taking the Certificate of Advanced Study in Mathematics or as a student studying towards the Ph.D. Degree in the field of theoretical physics, within the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics.