  paul charles william davies, am (born 22 april 1946) is an english physicist, writer and broadcaster, a professor at arizona state university as well as the director of beyond: center for fundamental concepts in science. he is affiliated with the institute for quantum studies at chapman university in california. he has held previous academic appointments at the university of cambridge, university college london, university of newcastle upon tyne, university of adelaide and macquarie university. his research interests are in the fields of cosmology, quantum field theory, and astrobiology. he has proposed that a one-way trip to mars could be a viable option. in 2005, he took up the chair of the seti: post-detection science and technology taskgroup of the international academy of astronautics. he is also an adviser to the microbes mind forum. ==education== davies was brought up in finchley, london, and attended woodhouse grammar school. he then studied physics at ucl, gaining a 1st class bsc in 1967. in 1970, he completed his phd under the supervision of michael j. seaton and [[sig
1946_births Academics_of_Newcastle_University Alumni_of_University_College_London British_physicists Cosmologists Deists English_physicists Fellows_of_the_Royal_Society_of_Literature Living_people Macquarie_University_faculty Members_of_the_International_Society_for_Science_and_Religion People_from_Finchley Philosophers_of_cosmology Quantum_physicists Templeton_Prize_laureates University_of_Adelaide_faculty