Hawking is known for speaking out about key political issues, like the Vietnam War, war in Iraq as well as campaigning for nuclear disarmament. When talking about the EU, Hawking said that he feels the EU promoted the sharing of ideas across the continent. In March, Hawking signed an open letter arguing the point for British science within the EU. In the letter, the 150 signatories write, “Being able to attract and fund the most talented Europeans assures the future of British science and also encourages the best scientists elsewhere to come here”.