Beyond Center Features

Paul Davies

Director Paul Davies recently received an honorary degree from Chapman University on May 23, 2009. He also gave the Commencement Address. Click here to watch (the speech starts at 1:10).

Paul Davies

Director Paul Davies to appear live on Science Friday. Watch LIVE here!
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (PST) Science Friday, Live from ASU, Katzin Concert Hall

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Scientists Urge Broadening Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Read Director Davies remarks on SETI in Unconventional Individualist’s article.

Stephen Hawkins

Science minds gather for ‘origins’ symposium
CLAS Newsfeed: A public symposium that will convene some of the greatest minds in science, including six Nobel Laureates, to discuss the origins of everything, from the universe to humanity, will be held Monday, April 6, in ASU Gammage.

Ariel Anbar

Origin of Life program received a boost
Beyond’s origin of life program received a boost with the announcement that the NASA Astrobiology Institute is funding a major ASU research initiative on “Elements for Life”. The project will be led by Beyond’s Associate Professor Ariel Anbar.

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Confronting the Big Questions

How did the universe come to exist? Is ours the only universe?
What are the laws of physics and why are they suited for life?
Why is nature mathematical?
How did life begin?

image from NASA

BEYOND is a pioneering center devoted to tackling foundational questions of science and philosophy through

  • Research programs
  • Specialist workshops
  • Public outreach

Our focus is on fundamental physics, cosmology and astrobiology, but our program is broad and transdisciplinary. Major themes are

  • The foundations of quantum mechanics and the nature of reality
  • Early universe cosmology, quantum gravity and quantum field theory
  • The quantum and thermodynamic properties of black holes
  • The nature of time
  • The origin of life and the search for life beyond Earth
  • SETI - the search for extraterrestrial intelligence
  • Alternative forms of life

The nature of complexity

Artist interpretation of a lecture by Paul Davies

Artist’s interpretation of a lecture by Paul Davies entitled “Taming complexity: opening a new scientific frontier,” delivered at the Future Summit of the Australian Davos Connection in Sydney, Australia on May 12, 2008 (courtesy ADC).