Edge of Chaos: Exploring Dynamic Symmetry Theory and the Science of Complexity

The Royal Society, London

The universe appears to balance on a shifting edge between rigidity and randomness. This one‑day seminar, organised in partnership with OXQ: The Oxford Quarterly Journal of Symmetry & Asymmetry and The Schweitzer Institute, asks what happens at that threshold – and why so many of the most interesting phenomena in nature, mind and society seem to emerge at the “edge of chaos”.

The conference took place on 15 May 2026. It brought together leading physicists, biologists, ecologists, philosophers and policy thinkers to examine new work in complexity science – in particular dynamic symmetry theory and the Dynamic Symmetry Index (DSI), alongside fresh insights on self‑organised criticality. Together they explored whether there are common structural principles linking living systems, physical processes and human institutions, with direct implications for climate risk, health, and governance.

• High‑Energy Physics & Symmetry Breaking – Prof Daniela Bortoletto OBE (Head of Particle Physics, University of Oxford)
• Climate Physics & Quantum – Prof Tim Palmer FRS (Royal Society Research Professor in Climate Physics, University of Oxford)
• Systems Biology & Evolution – Prof Denis Noble CBE FRS (Emeritus Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology, University of Oxford)
• Earth Systems & Tipping Points – Prof Tim Lenton OBE (Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science; Founding Director, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter)
• Extreme Plasmas & Laboratory Astrophysics – Prof Gianluca Gregori (Professor of Physics, University of Oxford)
• Philosophy & Symmetry – Prof Predrag Cicovacki (Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, College of the Holy Cross)
• Quantum Optics & Quantum Information – Prof Alexander Lvovsky (Professor of Physics, University of Oxford)
• Governance, Infrastructure & Ethics – Gisella Marinuzzi (Associate Director, The Schweitzer Institute)
• Non‑Equilibrium Physics & Complex Media – Dr Igor V. Ovchinnikov (UCLA)
• Dynamic Symmetry in Complex Systems – Benedict Rattigan FRSA (Director, The Schweitzer Institute)

Recordings the day's talks can be accessed here: https://schweitzer.institute/papers