The Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, a new centre at the University of Cambridge devoted to the development and testing of fundamental theories of the Universe, was launched yesterday. The event was marked by the unveiling of a bust of Stephen Hawking, who founded the new centre. Cambridge has an exceptional record in this field. Newton, Maxwell and Dirac laid the foundations for much of fundamental physics. Recent advances link the laws of physics to the structure of the Universe, raising the importance of key cosmological questions: How did the Universe begin? How were the laws of physics determined? What are the dark matter and dark energy, which dominate the Universe today? How will the Universe evolve in the future? The CTC aims to stimulate ambitious new attempts to answer these questions. CTC is funded by the Stephen Hawking Trust Fund, an established fund within the University of Cambridge.