Davies, Paul

Paul Davies

Bio

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Paul Davies is a British theoretical physicist based in South Australia and the author of over 20 books. He obtained a doctorate from University College, London (1970), was a research fellow at the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy (Cambridge) and a lecturer in Mathematics at King’s College, London. For ten years he was chair of theoretical physics at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne until his move to Australia as professor of mathematical physics at the University of Adelaide and then professor of natural philosophy. He is visiting professor of physics at Imperial College, London.

A researcher in the field of quantum gravity and cosmology, his books, The Physics of Time Asymmetry (1974) and Quantum Fields in Curved Space (1981) , written with former student Nicholas Birrell, remain standard texts for researchers. Davies’ interests range from the theory of black holes and cosmological models, to biogenesis and the role of cosmic impacts on the early development of life. In 1995 he was awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion. His best known text on the subject is The Mind of God (1992). Davies makes media appearances, writes regularly for newspapers and journals around the world, and has produced scientific documentaries for television. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, the Australian Institute of Physics, The World Economic Forum, and the World Academy of Arts and Science. A consultant to several publishers and a number of scientific and cultural organizations, he most recent book is Fifth Miracle, The Search for the Origin of Life (1998).