What lies beyond the standardSU(3)c×SU(2) ×U(1) model has occupied theorists for almost three decades now. Experimental evidence supporting the presence of new physics has been steadily mounting, especially in recent years. After a brief review I discuss a number of topics including supersymmetric GUTs with intimate connection to inflation and leptogenesis (and with crucial input from neutrino oscillations), extra dimensions, warped geometry, cosmological constant problem, andD‐brane inflation. Supersymmetry and extra dimensions should continue to play an important role in the search for a more fundamental theory. © 2003 American Institute of Physics