Serbs Petition Town To Name Street After Hawking

Locals in the Serbian town of Cacak have launched a petition to name a street after Stephen Hawking, who died on March 14 after a long battle with motor neurone disease.

"One of the greatest minds of the twentieth century undoubtedly deserves a street in Cacak to bear his name," the petition published online said.

The British scientist who died on March 14, at the age of 76, was famous for his work with black holes, relativity, and the origins of the universe.

Despite being virtually unable to move from a relatively early age, he authored several books on the dynamics of the universe and became an inspiration for many for his persistence - despite the tragic illness with which he was diagnosed when he was only 22, which left him in a wheelchair and able to speak only through a voice synthesiser.

"He improved the understanding of space, time, and space-time singularities," the petition, which had more than 50 signatures on Monday, said.

"Hawking uncovered some of the most frustrated secrets of the cosmos during his career," the petition added.

Some of the people who signed the petition said that they loved him as well as appreciating his scientific work.

"He should get the street in [the central city of] Kragujevac as well," one supporter said. Another concluded that "it is better to name streets after scientist than after politicians".

An Oscar-nominated film, The Theory of Everything, made in 2014 and starring Eddie Redmayne, helped further Hawking's international reputation.