The 2022 winners of the Stephen Hawking Medal were announced during STARMUS in Yerevan. The co-founder of STARMUS, astrophysicist Garik Israelyan, presented the significance of the Stephen Hawking Medal and its recipients at the press conference held on that occasion.
“I have been cooperating with Garik Israelyan since the first STARMUS, which was a wonderful experience for me over the years to get to know more than 300 famous scientists and members. To be honest, it was a surprise and exciting for me to receive this medal. Of course, we have talked all along about the people and scientists who deserve this honor.
They changed the world through science. It was an honor to receive the medal with Diane Ackerman and Jane Goodall, and to be here. Moreover, when Garik Israelyan said that I should receive a medal, I said that I will not vote for it. He said that we cannot make any more changes. And I had nothing left but to accept this honorable award. It is very pleasant for me to be on the same platform with these wonderful women who change people, their vision and views in the world,” said the world-famous musician.
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Garik Israelyan mentioned that after the pandemic, they talked a lot with Brian May, because he had the impression that humanity seems to be losing its faith in scientists. “After overcoming all that, we realized that the medal should now have much more power and importance.”
Brian May mentioned that he always wanted to be in Armenia for the purpose of cooperation with Armenian musicians. “It was a great honor for me to work with the renowned musician Jivan Gasparyan. This time I will be happy to work with his grandson as well.” He said that he wants to see a world without problems and care for the planet Earth.
“Everything that humanity does to the planet Earth has an impact on humanity itself.” Brian May also talked about performing on the same stage with Tavush’s youth choir. “I understand that we are dealing with children, that’s why I didn’t make so many changes. That speech is not about the high art of performance, but about the sensory field. That part of the concert will be more like an experience.”
When asked if he ever talked to Freddie Mercury about science, Brian May replied, “Freddie was interested in everything, he always focused deeply on what he wanted to do, he wanted to do it very well… As for me, I’m happy to combine the two branches: science and art.”
Aravot.am was interested in why, in his opinion, the music of Queen and Beatles is not born now, is high technology the reason why people have become dry and dry, without emotions and remained without such music? “It’s a very good compliment for me,” said May and continued, “It’s a little difficult for my generation to understand today’s music, maybe it’s the technological trends that lead to the fact that today there is no such music as you mentioned. Of course we were lucky to be a member of Queen. We were all critical of each other then, and the creative spirit came from that into a balance of harmony.”
Gohar HAKOBYAN
