Past speakers in the Brilliant Lecture Series have included George Clooney and Betty White. Now the series presents world-famous physicist, cosmologist, author and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient
Stephen Hawking. Stricken with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) as a young man, Hawking has been confined to a wheelchair and forced to speak through a voice box for years. His physical challenges haven't slowed Hawking, who has an active life of lecturing, teaching and writing (
The Universe in a Nutshell, A Brief History of Time). Along the way he’s demystified the cosmos, providing us mere humans a more down-to-earth understanding of the universe. ''My goal is simple,'' Hawking has said. ''It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.''
Hawking is an advocate of space travel as a solution to overpopulation. ''Getting a portion of the human race permanently off the planet is imperative for our future as a species,'' he's said. Hawking made appearances on Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Simpsons years ago, earning himself a spot on the pop-culture landscape. He got more cool points last year when it was reported that he's an enthusiastic regular at a California strip club that caters to swingers.
7 p.m. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, 615 Louisiana. For information, call 713-974-1335 or visit www.brilliantlectures.org. $35 to $250.
Tue., March 26, 7 p.m., 2013
