Famous for his theories on black holes and best-selling books about the universe, Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking will make his second appearance at Texas A&M.

Hawking will present "The Origin of the Universe" in Rudder Auditorium on the Texas A&M campus, Sunday.

Following Hawking's talk, the public is invited to get up-close and personal with science at a hands-on exhibition featuring a homemade hovercraft, a square-wheeled bicycle, working models of historic artillery and other fun experiments and displays illustrating basic scientific concepts and principles.

The events are part of the university's Physics Festival 2007 which is a part of a number of activities planned for Texas A&M's Parents' Weekend events.

For more details on the events happening on Saturday and Sunday presented by the physics department click here.

All events are being held in conjunction with the 2007 Mitchell Symposium on Astronomy, Cosmology and Fundamental Physics, an annual gathering of some of the world's foremost experts intended to advance research and exploration in related subject areas.

According to Texas A&M, Hawking's appearance at Texas A&M will mark his visit in the past four years.

He initially visited the campus in March 2003 to help inaugurate the university's George P. and Cynthia W. Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy, established with an endowment from the well-known Texas businessman and his wife, both of The Woodlands.