Scientist and author Stephen Hawking will appear in Seattle on June 16 as part of the Seattle Science Festival, the Pacific Science Center has announced.

Hawking, director of research at the Center for Theoretical Cosmology at Cambridge University in England, will join paleontologist Jack Horner and biologist Leroy Hood on an evolution-themed panel in the Seattle Science Festival Luminaries Series. The panel will appear at the Paramount Theatre.

The Luminaries Series kicks off June 1 with "Reinventing the Toilet," about the importance of sanitation in reducing disease worldwide. Other topics are "Hackers" on June 9; "Space" on June 22 and "Gaming" on June 29.

Along with the speaker series, the science festival includes a free science expo day at Seattle Center on June 2, and Seattle's first Mini Maker Faire, June 2-3 at Seattle Center Northwest Rooms and courtyard.

Speaker tickets and general info: seattlesciencefestival.org.

Seattle Times staff