Mr Sam Blackburn

Career

• 2006-present: Graduate Assistant to Professor Stephen W. Hawking, DAMTP, University of Cambridge
• 2002 - 2005: Acoustics Consultancy work and paid work experience

Current Responsibilities

• Sam Blackburn makes accessible travel plans for Prof. Hawking, who travels to around 5 countries per year, sometimes for over 2 months at a time. Sam's tasks include lifting the wheelchair into the hold of the plane and ensuring that the medical equipment works safely while airborne.
• He maintains and periodically upgrades the wheelchair and famously unique speech system used by Prof. Hawking.
• He is also developing better communication technologies for Prof. Hawking, such as the infrared sensor on his cheek.

Selected Publications

• Mechanical properties of Chewing Gum