Physics & Astronomy

George always had a keen interest in science. He was committed to advancing physics and expanding man’s understanding of the universe and the fundamental laws of nature. He first attracted Stephen Hawking’s interest during a meeting in April 2002 at Caltech in Pasadena to discuss Hawking’s insights into and information about the nature of the universe. 

They also discussed a campaign to establish the George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy at Texas A&M University.  

George's funding and support of astrophysics education at the K-12 and university levels, and his investments in The Giant Magellan Telescope and the McDonald Observatory of the University of Texas at Austin, are other examples of his investments in physics and astronomy.