STARMUS: Sir Ridley Scott receives Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication

STARMUS Festival co-founders Sir Brian May and Garik Israelian presented Sir Ridley Scott with the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication as part of the upcoming Starmus VIII, recognizing his longstanding contribution to the popularization of science.

Festival organizers said the medal was presented to Scott for bringing science to the big screen through his films and for his longstanding contribution to filmmaking.

Sir Ridley Scott says: “It is a genuine honour to receive this award, especially one that takes its name from such a brilliant scientist. It is vital for today’s society to engage with scientific thought, and it has been my privilege to inspire curiosity in audiences around the world through my films.”

Sir Brian May says: "We’re highly honoured and delighted that Ridley Scott has accepted this STARMUS Stephen Hawking medal. His films have inspired us all for half a century now, to question the relationship between humans and the endless possibilities that surround us. Ridley's work explores the place where Science meets Art, and humanity meets destiny - the very path of curiosity that Stephen Hawking himself inspired us to tread….All Hail Ridley Scott !!"

Garik Israelian says: “Ridley Scott has inspired millions of people to think about some of the biggest questions facing humanity: Are we alone? Where do we come from? What is intelligence? Can we survive on other worlds? Through extraordinary storytelling, his films have brought these questions to audiences around the world. This is exactly the spirit in which Stephen Hawking and STARMUS created the Medal ten years ago, and I believe he would have been delighted to see Ridley receive it.”

STARMUS is a unique festival that brings together science and art, where leading scientists, innovators and astronauts discuss issues related to space, science, technology and innovation, as well as the future of our planet. The festival was co-founded by astrophysicist Garik Israelian and legendary Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May.

The first STARMUS festival was held in 2011.

The eighth STARMUS festival will take place in Spain’s Canary Islands in October 2026.

The Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication is awarded annually as part of the festival to science communicators in three categories: science, art and film. The medal was first awarded at the third STARMUS festival in 2016. Over the years, recipients have included SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk, Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan, Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer, the late primatologist Jane Goodall, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, physicist Jim Al-Khalili, Queen member, musician and astrophysicist Brian May, electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre, and others.

This year, for the first time, a new medal named after the late primatologist Jane Goodall—the Jane Goodall Earth Medal—will be awarded as part of the festival. It will be presented to people who make efforts and consistently use their voices to promote the preservation of our planet and biodiversity. Goodall, who died in 2025, was a member of the STARMUS advisory board.

The Stephen Hawking Medal Ceremony 2026 will take place at Starmus VIII: The Search for Truth — 17–22 October, Tenerife & La Palma.