Theory and concepts in biology

Overview

This conference will take place at EMBL Heidelberg, with the option to attend virtually.

Registration is not yet open for this event. If you are interested in receiving more information please register your interest.

Symposium overview

This conference brings theorists and experimental biologists together as equals to ask how biology can be understood, not just measured. Spanning all scales of life, the meeting explores what theory can offer biology, and what biology can offer theory in return.

Biology now generates vast data but lacks matching conceptual frameworks. As artificial intelligence reshapes what “understanding” means in science, dialogue between theorists and experimentalists is increasingly essential.

The interactive small group discussions that distinguished previous meetings will continue, fostering community and cross-disciplinary connections. This edition introduces a structured activity, pairing theorists with experimentalists for direct one-on-one exchange, and the programme highlights themes identified during the last conference in 2025: theory-biology integration, the right level of abstraction, and understanding in the age of AI.

Topics that will be covered during the meeting

• Biologically active matter
• Cellular information processing
• Memory and learning
• Organismal behaviour
• Mechanics and morphogenesis
• Spatial ecology
• Living dynamical systems
• Emerging concepts
• Philosophy of biological understanding
  

Who should attend

Scientists and scholars at any career stage (especially students and early career researchers) working on or curious about theoretical/quantitative approaches to understanding living systems.

What past participants say about the Symposium

“The ‘Theory and concepts in biology’ meeting offers an ideal environment for both experimentalists and theoreticians to share and discuss the fundamental questions driving our research. It was, without a doubt, one of the most enriching and thought-provoking meetings I’ve had the pleasure to attend.” – Mariana Gómez-Schiavon, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico

“This conference is inspiring and stimulating in a truly unique way as it brings together an extremely diverse crowd of researchers beyond the traditional boundaries of scientific disciplines. I wish all conferences were as thought-provoking as this one!” – Virginie Uhlmann, University of Zurich, Switzerland

“I found the conference a very enriching experience. The lectures had a very good balance of theory and experimental methodologies. The organization was fantastic and plenty of opportunities were offered to network with other scientists from vastly different niches.” – Prayas Chakrabarty, Max Planck Institute for the Neurobiology of Behavior, Germany

Speakers

Mazviita Chirimuuta

The University of Edinburgh

UK

Thierry Emonet

Yale University

USA

Akshit Goyal

International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS)

India

Pierre Haas

Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics

Germany

Kabir Husain

University College London

UK

Anthony Hyman

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Keita Kamino

Academia Sinica

Taiwan

Liedewij Laan

Delft University of Technology

The Netherlands

Andrea Liu

University of Pennsylvania

USA

Pankaj Mehta

Boston University

USA

Leenoy Meshulam

Brown University

USA

Miguel Ángel Muñoz

University of Granada

Spain

Wave Ngampruetikorn

The University of Sydney

Australia

Armita Nourmohammad

Yale University

USA

Stephanie Palmer

The University of Chicago

USA

Wenying Shou

University College London

UK

Tsvi Tlusty

Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)

South Korea

Scientific organisers

Alexander Aulehla

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo

Pompeu Fabra University

Spain

Isabella Graf

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Christina Hueschen

University of California, San Diego

USA

Madan Rao

National Centre for Biological Sciences

India

Kirsty Wan

University Of Exeter

UK

Conference organiser

Nathalie Sneider

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Sponsors

Media partners

EMBO Reports, an EMBO Press journal

Sponsorship opportunities

We offer a variety of event sponsoring possibilities, with the flexibility to select a set sponsorship package or combine individual sponsorship options to suit your event budget. Discounts are available for companies sponsoring multiple events at EMBL Heidelberg. View other conferences, or contact sponsorship@embl.de for further information.

If you are interested in becoming a media partner of this event, please visit our media partnerships webpage.

About

EMBO | EMBL Symposia promote scientific communication and collaboration in the European research area. They provide scientists with a platform to discuss and exchange ideas on forward-looking topics and new developments in the life sciences.

Topics emphasise upcoming developments and the interdisciplinary nature of related fields. Jointly funded and organised by EMBO and EMBL – and complementary to their respective courses, workshops, and conference programmes – the symposia promote scientific communication and collaboration.

All symposia are held in the EMBL Advanced Training Centre (ATC) in Heidelberg, Germany, or virtually.

Media kit

Want to let others know you’re attending this event? Take a look at our shareable media and feel free to use them in your social media channels or presentations.

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