Armenian Astrophysicist Garik Israelian and Queen’s Brian May Honor Physicist Brian Cox With Stephen Hawking Medal

British physicist and broadcaster Brian Cox has received the 2026 Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication, an award honoring figures who have helped bring science beyond academia and closer to the public.

Cox received the medal Oct. 2 at the Royal Astronomical Society in London from Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Sir Brian May and Armenian astrophysicist Garik Israelian, the co-founders of the STARMUS science and music festival.

The award was created a decade ago with Stephen Hawking, one of the world's most influential theoretical physicists. It recognizes people who have made science more accessible through public communication, music, art and film.

For Cox, the recognition carried a personal connection to Hawking. He was present when the medal was first announced 10 years ago and described receiving it as a “great honour.”

Cox also reflected on Hawking’s belief that curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge matter beyond science itself, particularly at a time of growing division around the world.

He recalled Hawking’s message to “look up at the stars,” saying it captured the spirit of STARMUS and the broader value of scientific discovery.

Cox’s award will be celebrated Oct. 17 during the opening of STARMUS VIII: The Search for Truth in Tenerife. He will not attend because of touring commitments, but footage from the London presentation will be shown during the ceremony.

The festival, scheduled for Oct. 17-22 in Tenerife and La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands, will again bring scientists, musicians and artists together on the same stage.

Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman and May are among those scheduled to perform with the Las Palmas Symphony Orchestra. The program also includes Rick Wakeman, violinist Rusanda Panfili and the STARMUS All Stars Band.

Israelian said the medal represents more than the achievements of its recipients. A decade after its creation, he said, it also reflects the growth of an international community built around the idea that scientific knowledge should be available to everyone.

May praised Cox as one of the leading public voices in science, pointing to his ability to explain difficult subjects in ways that reach audiences far beyond the scientific community.

After presenting the medal, May and Israelian also gave Cox an OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch made from 18K Moonshine Gold.

The three later discussed astronomy, artificial intelligence, music, humanity and the universe, returning throughout the conversation to Hawking and the legacy he left behind.

STARMUS was founded by Israelian and May to bring science and music together and make major scientific ideas accessible to a wider public. Hawking was closely involved with the festival and helped establish the medal that now bears his name.

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