The "Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication" will be awarded to those who help promote science to the public through media such as cinema, music, writing and art. "I'm happy to say I'm here today not to accept a medal but to announce one," Hawking joked as he launched the medal at an event at the Royal Society, Britain's de-facto academy of sciences. - See more at: http://www.khanstory.com/2015/12/stephen-hawking-medal-for-science.html#sthash.5uReeG0P.dpuf

1. The "Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication" will be awarded to those
who help promote science to the public through media such as cinema, music, writing
and art.
"I'm happy to say I'm here today not to accept a medal but to announce one," Hawking
joked as he launched the medal at an event at the Royal Society, Britain's de-facto
academy of sciences.
The physicist joined Professor Brian Cox, Dr Brian May, Dr Richard Dawkins and
Alexei Leonov, the first human to walk in space, on a panel to introduce the new
medal, which will be awarded for the first time next year.
The Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication will be presented at the
third Starmus festival, a project which brings together music and art with the world's
most influential figures in astronomy.
Creator Professor Garik Israelian, an astrophysicist at the Institute of Astrophysics of
the Canary Islands, said "sometimes communicating science is as important as doing
the science itself" and said his panel of speakers where an an "inspiration" to the next
generation of scientists.

2. "When I wrote 'A Brief History of Time' I was told that no one would want to read a
hardback book about physics. Fortunately for me, it turned out not to be true," he
added, referring to his best-selling popular science book.
"People worldwide display an incredible appetite of scientific information... The
public want to know, they want to understand."
"Science communicators put science right at the heart of daily life. Bringing science
to the people brings the people to science.
"This matters to me, to you, to the world."
Having received a number of awards and honours at the Royal Society, he added that
he was "delighted" to be presenting rather than receiving one and said: "I am looking
forward to presenting the award next year. I hope to see you all there."
Dr May, best known for being one quarter of the band Queen, described his co-
panellist as a "scientist, an artist and a rock star in every possible way".
He helped establish the first Starmus festival in Tenerife in 2011 by combining his
passion and expertise in music and astronomy, and said: "At first I thought the idea
was madness, a dream. But I loved that dream and we made it come true."
The first medals will be awarded next summer in three different categories: the
scientific, artistic and film communities.
Prof Hawking was also presented with another portrait of himself, created by a 12-
year-old girl near Armenia after watching blockbuster film The Theory Of
Everything, based on his life. She made it of 170m-year old fossils of lilies.
Prof Israelian said that having the panel of renowned scientists together was
"incredible" and a "historical" occasion.
He described them as "stars" of science and said the award would aim to encourage
more young people to recognise them.
The winners will be announced at the Starmus Festival, a gathering celebrating art and
science in Spain's Canary Islands that will take place from June 27 to July 2 next year.

3. One supporter of the festival, which will have its third edition next summer, is Brian
May, guitarist of the legendary British rock band Queen, who also attended the press
conference on Wednesday.
"When I was a boy I had two separate dreams, two passions. One was to be an
astronomer and the other was to be a musician," May said.
"I returned to astronomy about eight years ago and completed to become a doctor in
astrophysics."
Dr Dawkins commented in particular on the role of social media in this and
highlighted how live video links and Twitter helped generate national excitement over
the launch of Major Tim Peak, first official British astronaut sent into space, to the
International Space Station.