By
Scott Neuman
,
Ava Berger
Jeffrey Epstein funded science research and created a conference in 2006 that was organized by theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss. Stephen Hawking and other notable scientists attended the event in the U.S. Virgin Islands.JPL-Caltech/NASA, Getty Images and Department of Justice/Collage by Emily Bogle/NPRhide caption
Some 100 feet below the ocean's surface, Stephen Hawking peeked through the circular porthole of a submarine and saw the brilliant blue tropical water.
It was March 2006, and the famous astrophysicist, accompanied by one of his ever-present nurses, sat strapped in his wheelchair, enjoying the view of coral reefs and colorful fish off the coast of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
It was his first undersea experience, and he had Jeffrey Epstein to thank for it.
Renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking, who died in 2018, aboard a submarine in the U.S. Virgin Islands in March 2006.CERCA/Case Western Reserve Universityhide caption
The submarine ride capped anearly weeklong gathering funded by Epstein. It brought together around 20 of the world's top physicists, including three Nobel laureates and three more who would later receive the prestigious prize.
The "Confronting Gravity" conference was billed as a chance to discuss key issues in fundamental physics and cosmology and wasdescribedas a place where participants could "meet, discuss, relax on the beach, and take a trip to the nearby private island retreat of the science philanthropist Jeffrey Epstein."
"It was an excellent conference," said Alan Guth, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who attended the event. In fact, Epstein would go on to describe it asone of his top five professional achievements.
Theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss, then with Case Western Reserve University, organized the event. He maintained an almost 15-year friendship with Epstein andlater retired from Arizona State University in 2019amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations against him. At ASU, he ran theOrigins Project, which was partially funded by Epstein. Krauss haspreviously deniedthe sexual misconduct allegations.
Lawrence Krauss, a theoretical physicist, speaks during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., in 2017.Carolyn Kaster/APhide caption
The 2006 Virgin Islands conference illustrates how Epstein used philanthropy to build relationships with scientists and academic institutions. NPR spoke to scientists and searched through the Department of Justice documents on Epstein to understand how he built his network of prominent scientists. Epstein's interests spanned fields including theoretical physics, evolutionary biology and computer science, and he funded conferences, research programs and individual scientists.
