Welcome to the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology

“The CTC exists to develop theories of the Universe that are both mathematically consistent and observationally testable.”
Professor Stephen Hawking
Steven Hawking in front of a blackboard

The Purpose of CTC

There are two circumstances in which the hidden basic fabric of the Universe is violently shaken and unveiled: in the enormous temperatures and densities of the Hot Big Bang and during the extreme collapse to form a black hole. CTC focuses on mathematical theories of these pivotal physical events, confronting them with observational data to gain new insight into the fundamental structure of the Universe and its origin. As well as supporting fellows and visiting professors, CTC's activities include hosting timely workshops and international conferences on frontier topics in cosmology.

Professor Paul Shellard, Director

Latest news and events

CTC professor wins prestigious award

Maciej Dunajski The CTC's Maciej Dunajski has won first prize in the Gravity Foundation's annual awards for essays. The prize has been won in the past by CTC founder Stephen Hawking and by several physicists who went on to win the Nobel prize, including Professor ...more »

CTC takes part in groundbreaking dark matter collaboration

CTC faculty member Professor Blake Sherwin leads a team of researchers making up part of the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) collaboration. The ACT has just released findings that reveal the most detailed map of dark matter distributed across a quarter of the entire sky, ...more »

Postdoctoral and Teaching Fellow vacancies in Cosmology and Gravitation

There are several job opportunities linked to the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology and the Relativity and Gravitation group, including three postdoctoral positions, as well as teaching positions for the new MPhil in Data Intensive Science (with which CTC is closely ...more »

Royal Society Biographical Memoir – John Barrow

The Royal Society has recently published a biographical memoir of the Professor John Barrow, a longstanding member and trustee of the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, who sadly passed away from cancer in 2020. The memoir was written by Professor George Ellis, also a former ...more »

The legacy of Stephen Hawking, 1942-2018

The 8th January 2022 will mark what would have been the eightieth birthday of Stephen Hawking, one of the truly great figures of twentieth century theoretical physics and cosmology, and someone who overcame enormous challenges to inspire millions of people around the world. ...more »

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