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STARMUS FESTIVAL COFOUNDERS SIR BRIAN MAY AND GARIK ISRAELIAN PRESENTED PROFESSOR BRIAN COX WITH THE 2026 STEPHEN HAWKING MEDAL FOR SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

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LONDON, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On October 2nd, At the Royal Astronomical Society in London, Starmus Festival cofounders Sir Brian May and Garik Israelian awarded Professor Brian Cox the prestigious 2026 Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication, recognising his outstanding contribution to bringing science to global audiences and inspiring millions through his work as a physicist, broadcaster and public communicator.

The Stephen Hawking Medal was established ten years ago by Professor Stephen Hawking, a board member of the STARMUS Festival, to honour individuals who bridge the gap between science and society through the arts, music and film.

Brian Cox says –
“It’s a great honour to receive the 2026 Stephen Hawking Medal from STARMUS, and particularly poignant for me because I was there with Stephen when the Medal was first announced 10 years ago. Astronomy is the oldest science, and in today’s fractured world I believe that striving to understand the Universe is more important than ever. Stephen believed in the search for knowledge for its own sake. ‘Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet’ was Stephen’s closing line all those years ago. For me that is what STARMUS, and science, and life, is all about.”

The Festival’s opening celebration on 17th October in Tenerife will unite science, music, and culture in an extraordinary evening featuring Andrea Bocelli, Sir Brian May and Sarah Brightman, accompanied by the Las Palmas Symphony Orchestra, alongside Rick Wakeman, Rusanda Panfili, and the STARMUS All Stars Band. The evening’s centrepiece will be the presentation of the Stephen Hawking Medal, marking a decade of outstanding contributions to public engagement with science. Due to his touring schedule, Brian Cox is unable to attend the ceremony in Tenerife and was therefore presented with the medal at the private ceremony at Royal Astronomical Society, which will be broadcast during the Festival’s opening celebration.

“Ten years ago, Stephen Hawking helped us launch a dream,” said Garik Israelian, co-founder of STARMUS. “Today, we celebrate not only what has been achieved, but also the extraordinary community that has grown around the idea that science belongs to everyone. We are delighted to be awarding Brian Cox on this occasion.”

Brian May, co-founder of STARMUS, added: “The Stephen Hawking Medal was born from a shared belief that science should inspire people far beyond the scientific community. Ten years later, its message is more important than ever. At a time when truth, evidence, and critical thinking are increasingly challenged, we are proud to celebrate those who help bring science, wonder, and understanding to the world. I am delighted that this year’s Starmus is honouring Brian Cox whose uniquely powerful presentations have dramatically changed the way the general public view the world.”

As well as presenting Brian Cox with the impressive medal, Brian May and Garik Israelian also gifted him a unique OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch crafted in 18K Moonshine™ Gold. 

The three discussed astronomy, humanity, music, AI, the universe, and the enduring legacy of Stephen Hawking, a decade after he and the STARMUS co-founders established the medal to celebrate outstanding contributions to science communication.

The Stephen Hawking Medal Ceremony 2026 will take place at – Starmus VIII: The Search for Truth, including a concert with Brian May, Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman celebrating the union between science and music.
17–22 October, Tenerife & La Palma.  Tickets available www.starmus.com

About STARMUS Festival  
Founded by astrophysicist Garik Israelian and musician, astrophysicist, and Queen guitarist Sir Brian May, STARMUS is a global festival of science, exploration, music, and art that brings together Nobel Prize winners, astronauts, scientists, thinkers, artists and musicians to celebrate human curiosity, creativity, and discovery. For the full list of speakers and musicians at Starmus VIII (17 – 22 October 2026) please visit www.starmus.com 

About The Stephen Hawking Medal
The bronze design has two particularly significant sides:

One side of the medal features a portrait of Stephen Hawking, created by Alexei Leonov, the Soviet/Russian cosmonaut who was the first person to conduct a spacewalk.The other side combines an image of Leonov during his historic spacewalk with Brian May’s “Red Special” guitar, symbolising the meeting of science, exploration, art and music—the core philosophy of the Starmus Festival.

Previous recipients include Christopher Nolan, Sir David Attenborough and The Big Bang Theory.

About OMEGA and the Speedmaster Moonwatch
OMEGA is a prestigious Swiss watchmaker and member of the Swatch Group Ltd. Since 1848, the brand has been synonymous with excellence, innovation and precision, as well as a pioneering spirit, demonstrated by conquests of the oceans and space.

 In particular, the OMEGA Speedmaster has been trusted by astronauts and international space agencies since the 1960s, most famously during all six moon landings in history. As part of the brand’s commitment to science, exploration, and the pursuit of knowledge, OMEGA has formed an enduring 10-year partnership with STARMUS. Each recipient of the Stephen Hawking Medal receives a golden Speedmaster Moonwatch. For the 2026 edition, Starmus VIII, the special Speedmaster Moonwatch in 18K Moonshine™ Gold features a smoked sapphire glass caseback, which has been uniquely engraved in white to depict the medal itself. The caseback carries the words “WINNER OF THE STEPHEN HAWKING MEDAL FOR SCIENCE COMMUNICATION”.

US: Dan DuPont, dupont0708@gmail.com, +1 202 380 7558; UK/EU: Nicole Ettinger, nicole@ettingerpr.com, +44 7515 394107; Spain, Carlos Esteban, cesteban@llys.global, +34 699 55 2854; Pablo Mate Sanllorente, pablo.mate@llyc.global, +34 656 53 7287

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SOURCE Starmus Foundation

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Lexar Partners with Bolt PR to Accelerate Consumer Technology Brand Growth

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October 5, 2026

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Bolt PR to lead strategic communications and brand visibility for the high-performance memory and storage global leader

NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bolt PR, an award-winning integrated marketing communications agency, is now the public relations agency of record for Lexar, a global leader in memory and storage solutions.

Lexar delivers high-performance memory and storage for consumers, creators and professionals who capture, store and move data. Its portfolio includes memory cards, SSDs and DRAM, and it pairs reliability with innovation for a data-driven world. As data needs grow, Lexar is bringing decades of expertise into the AI era.

“As Lexar extends its reach and pushes storage innovation forward for consumers and professionals worldwide, strategic communications becomes essential to how we build our brand and own our narrative,” said Van Baer, General Manager of Lexar North America. “We are pleased to partner with Bolt PR to showcase the technology behind our products, elevate our expertise across the memory and storage category, and connect Lexar with the audiences that matter most.”

“Lexar has built a strong reputation for delivering innovative, high-performance memory and storage solutions. We’re excited to help bring that story to a broader audience,” said Erin Vadala, Group President at Bolt PR. “As data demands continue to grow across everything from content creation and gaming to AI and everyday digital life, Lexar has a compelling role to play in the conversation. We look forward to building a PR program that reinforces its category expertise and creates meaningful opportunities for visibility.”

About Lexar
Founded in California in 1996, Lexar has spent 30 years advancing reliable, high-performance memory solutions and now operates more than 100,000 sales channels across six continents, serving over 100 million users in more than 70 countries. Its award-winning portfolio—from memory cards and SSDs to DRAM and mobile storage—continues to empower creators, professionals, and everyday users worldwide. For more information, please visit lexar.com.

About Bolt PR
Bolt PR is an award-winning, integrated digital marketing and public relations agency. With a presence in major markets across the country, Bolt PR partners with emerging and established brands across B2B, technology, consumer, and hospitality sectors to drive meaningful visibility, credibility, and growth. Through strategic media relations, content marketing, digital advertising, and social media management, Bolt PR delivers creative, results-driven programs that move businesses forward. For more information, visit boltpr.com.

Media Contact
Lexar Bolt PR Team
lexar@boltpr.com

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SOURCE Bolt PR LLC

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Shooks Expands Privacy & Cybersecurity Group with Washington, D.C. Partner Catherine Muir

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October 5, 2026

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shook, Hardy & Bacon is pleased to announce that Catherine Muir has joined the firm as a partner in its Privacy & Cybersecurity practice group.

Based in Washington, D.C., Muir brings significant experience advising clients on privacy and cybersecurity issues, investigations, regulatory enforcement matters, and matters involving the Federal Trade Commission.

“Catherine is a highly respected strategic counselor whose cybersecurity experience will be an outstanding asset to our practice,” said Al Saikali, chair of Shook’s Privacy Group. “Her ability to help clients manage risk in fast-moving, high-profile matters aligns with our practice’s focus on developing innovative strategies and defenses.”

Muir counsels clients across a broad range of industries, including retail, automotive, technology, financial services and healthcare, among others, on managing digital risk, cybersecurity preparedness and response, privacy compliance, and operational resilience, and has guided organizations through significant cybersecurity incidents, including destructive malware events, zero-day vulnerabilities and other high-stakes matters.

“Catherine’s arrival reflects our continued investment in areas that are increasingly important to clients across sectors and practices,” said Shook Chair Madeleine McDonough. “Her ability to address litigation, regulatory and cybersecurity issues together make her a valuable addition.”

Muir’s arrival expands the firm’s capabilities in matters involving government enforcement, information governance and emerging cyber and privacy risks. She also has experience in regulatory and policy issues in automotive cybersecurity and autonomous vehicles.

“What sets Shook apart is its people,” said Muir. “The combination of extraordinary talent, a genuinely collaborative culture and deep litigation capabilities creates a powerful platform. I saw an opportunity not simply to join an exceptional firm, but to bring an even more integrated approach to helping clients navigate risks in an increasingly complex and evolving landscape.”

About Shook, Hardy & Bacon

Founded in 1889, Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. has 18 offices in the United States with attorneys and professional staff serving clients in the health, science and technology sectors in areas ranging from product liability defense and business litigation to intellectual property prosecution and litigation, environmental and toxic tort, privacy and data security and regulatory counseling.

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SOURCE Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

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Wells Vehicle Electronics Announces New President, Joe Robinson

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October 5, 2026

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FOND DU LAC, Wis., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wells Vehicle Electronics, a leading global source of advanced vehicle electronics solutions and a member of the Omega Holdings family of companies, today announced the appointment of Joe Robinson as President, effective October 15, 2026. Robinson succeeds Patrick Sommerfeld, who has served as President since 2022.

Robinson brings more than 15 years of automotive aftermarket experience to the role and most recently served as Vice President of Product Development for Omega Holdings. Throughout his career, he has led initiatives spanning new product development, product quality and validation, and strategic customer engagement.

As President, Robinson will lead the continued growth of Wells Vehicle Electronics, building on the company’s more than 120-year history of serving the automotive aftermarket while supporting its integration into the Omega Holdings portfolio.

“Joe’s extensive industry experience and strategic vision make him uniquely qualified to lead Wells Vehicle Electronics into its next phase of growth,” said Randy Rankin, Chief Executive Officer of Omega Holdings. “As we expand our presence in vehicle electronics, Joe’s leadership will help strengthen the Wells brand while continuing to deliver the quality, innovation, and service our customers expect.”

“I am honored to lead this exceptional team of automotive professionals” said Robinson. “I look forward to driving the continued success of Wells Vehicle Electronics. As we navigate this upcoming transition, our commitment remains firmly focused on delivering premium quality products, expanding our extensive product offering, and cultivating our strong customer partnerships”

The announcement follows Omega Holdings’ recent acquisition of the automotive aftermarket electronic components business of Wells Vehicle Electronics, further strengthening Omega Holdings’ position in the vehicle electronics category and expanding its ability to serve customers with a broader range of high-quality aftermarket solutions.

About Wells Vehicle Electronics

Since 1903, Wells Vehicle Electronics has met the fast-growing auto industry’s need for accurate and quality electrical components. Working alongside early automobile innovators, Wells became a pioneer in the design, engineering and manufacturing of these parts.

Wells continues to remain a long-standing distribution partner dedicated to serving the needs of the automotive aftermarket industry. Always considering that customers are looking for innovative, high quality electronics that meet the strict requirements of not only today’s vehicles, but tomorrow’s as well.

Wells Vehicle Electronics | Automotive Electronics & Components

About Omega Holdings
Premier automotive parts distributor specializing in air conditioning, turbochargers, sensors, and other high demand components for light-duty, heavy-duty, and off-highway vehicles. Market leaders in a diverse range of channels, Omega Holdings leverages its expansive product offering and customer partnerships to service the automotive aftermarket industry. 

With an unwavering commitment to quality and reliability, Omega Holdings serves the unique needs of over 3,000 customers across 85 countries. As a trusted value added partner, Omega Holdings offers an extensive product portfolio supported by comprehensive technical, marketing, and merchandising services.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/omegaholdings/

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SOURCE Omega Holdings

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