Fred Hoyle, cosmologist and controversialist

Sir Fred Hoyle (1915-2001) was one of the most influential and controversial astrophysicists of his generation. A pioneer of the use of radio broadcasts to popularize astronomy, he was much liked by the general public. In 1949 he famously coined the term 'the big bang' to conjure up an image of the exploding Universe. Today it is perhaps unfortunate that Hoyle is remembered as a scientist who backed a flawed cosmological theory (the steady state universe) for too long, and then confused his followers by plunging into controversies as varied as the purpose of Stonehenge ('it's an eclipse computer'), the fossil archaeopteryx ('it's a fake'), or the causes of influenza pandemics ('viruses from space'). This lecture by Hoyle's biographer seeks to re-establish Hoyle's reputation by describing his many achievements in astrophysics, particularly regarding the origin of the chemical elements, as well as the good that came from his controversial cosmology.

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About Simon Mitton

Dr Simon Mitton studied radio astronomy at Cambridge and received his PhD in physics. As a graduate student he worked with Martin Ryle, and on completion of his degree was awarded a fellowship at the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy, founded and directed by Fred Hoyle. He later became the science publishing director of Cambridge University Press. At Cambridge he is a Fellow of St EdmundÕs College and is affiliated to the Department of the History and Philosophy of Science. His book Fred Hoyle: A life in science is being reissued in 2011 by Cambridge University Press and he will be signing copies on the CUP stand.

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