Monday, December 26 2005 11:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Silicon Valley: A geophysicist of Indian origin has been selected the 'Sexiest Man Alive' by People magazine along with Hollywood superstars Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt.

Michael Manga, a 37-year-old geology professor of UC Berkeley, who won the USD 500,000 MacArthur 'genius' grant earlier this year, was included in 'People' magazine's world's 14 sexiest men list including Matthew McConaughey, Matt Damon, Jake Gyllenhaal and Orlando Bloom among others.

"My first inclination, of course, was to say no, because that's not how I perceive myself," Manga, father of two boys, said. "But it is a way to let people know about science and that it is okay to be a scientist." The People magazine's list has included academics since 1997 and magazine editors who scanned pictures of this year's MacArthur winners and came across the pony-tailed Manga, said Elizabeth Sporkin, People's executive editor.

"I think a lot of people would be thrilled to have him as their professor," Sporkin said. "He has long hair, he is hip, he is young." According to university publication, UC Berkley News, Michael told his wife, librarian Susan Storch, that People magazine had contacted him because he had won the MacArthur in September.