Edge of Chaos: Exploring Dynamic Symmetry Theory

The Royal Society, London – 15th May 2026

On 15th May 2026, The Oxford Quarterly Journal of Symmetry & Asymmetry (OXQ) and The Schweitzer Institute will co-host a conference at the Royal Society in London. The event, titled “Edge of Chaos: Exploring Dynamic Symmetry Theory”, will explore how many important systems – from ecosystems and economies to cities, hospitals, and individual lives – function most effectively not in strict order or in complete disorder, but in the controlled middle ground between the two.

Dynamic symmetry theory is a contemporary framework that examines this “in‑between” zone. It asks how systems remain structured enough to be stable, yet flexible enough to adjust when conditions change. The conference will explore these ideas in accessible terms, show how they might appear in physics, biology, psychology, and social systems, and discuss what they could mean for the design of institutions, policies, and technologies in the twenty‑first century.

While the full list will be announced closer to the date, contributions are expected from:

• Physicists and cosmologists working on symmetry‑breaking, critical phenomena, and the quantum–gravity frontier.
• Biologists and medical researchers studying self‑organisation, systems biology, and resilience in physiological and ecological systems.
• Economists and social scientists examining markets, institutions, and cities as adaptive networks.
• Philosophers and cognitive scientists addressing questions about agency, learning, and the arrow of time in complex systems.

Talks will move between introductory material and more specialised discussions, but will be structured so that non‑specialists can follow the main arguments and participate in question‑and‑answer sessions.

The conference and lecture series are designed for:

• Researchers and students in any field interested in complexity, systems thinking, or cross‑disciplinary work.
• Practitioners in policy, health, finance, education, technology, engineering, and design who need to manage uncertainty and change.
• Members of the public who are curious about how contemporary science is rethinking the relationship between order, chaos, and adaptation.