9th Edwards Symposium – Frontiers in Statistical Physics and Soft Matter

Background

The Edwards Symposium Series reaches its ninth year in 2025. The Symposium will be an in-person event, but with some limited virtual elements, and we look forward to welcoming participants to Robinson College, Cambridge.

Sir Sam Edwards FRS, in whose name this series was set up, was one of the great scientific minds of the 20th century. This series pays tribute to Sir Sam, recognising the pivotal role he played in bringing advances in the physical sciences to bear on major industrial problems. His fundamental contributions to the field of soft matter ranged from polymer melts, through gels, colloids, granular materials and glasses to optimisation problems.

Each year the Symposium highlights the fast evolving and diverse nature of soft matter science and related areas of statistical physics. These fields relate to many industrial and biological systems and can involve a wide range of disciplines. The science area has led to many materials and processes for industry and commerce while also posing new fundamental problems. The Symposium continues to build on Sir Sam’s realization that broad classes of system are governed by unifying physical principles, arising from the geometry, topology or other qualitative behaviour of their underlying constituents.

The Edwards Symposium Series continues to recognise the fast evolving and diverse nature of the field and each year focuses on different areas of new and emerging science related, but not limited, to the statistical physics of soft matter.

Aims & Objectives

The Edwards Symposium Series continues to highlight the latest developments in soft matter and statistical physics with a particular (but not exclusive) emphasis on theoretical and mathematical models. There is a focus on how the research inform industrial processes, materials, and design and on how it can help address societal priorities and problems. Leading academic speakers convey their latest scientific work, aiming to foster collaboration and discussions across the boundaries between academic disciplines and industrial and commercial sectors.

In 2025, the workshop will focus on the following soft matter areas:

• Statistical Mechanics of Machine Learning
• Using Machine Learning to Predict Flow Behaviour / Rheology
• Engineered Soft Matter / Metamaterials
• Soft Matter Physics and Biological Function / Immune Response

Early Career Researcher Bursaries

Early Career Researchers (ECRs) can apply for a bursary to cover their travel expenses attending the upcoming symposium. Please note we can only award travel funding to early career researchers. Early Career Researchers will be notified early August on the outcome of the funding.

Elevator Pitch Session

Early Career Researchers (ECRs) are encouraged to register their interest to present a short elevator pitch and poster presentation during a dedicated Elevator Pitch Session between 15:35 – 17:00 on Thursday 11th September. These short 5 minute pitches will highlight work you are currently carrying out as an early career researcher. Please indicate on the registration form if you are interested in presenting along with a title and abstract.

Posters

Attendees are encouraged to present a poster during dedicated poster sessions during breaks and Lunches throughout the symposium. You will be asked to indicate on the registration form if you are interested in presenting a poster, along with a title and abstract.

Sponsorship

The Edwards Symposium Series is funded in part by the generous sponsorship of CFM (Capital Fund Management). We express our gratitude to CFM for their support.

Organisation

The Edwards Symposia is organised jointly by the Newton Gateway to Mathematics and the Edwards Centre for Soft Matter. The latter is a virtual laboratory, encompassing staff from six Cambridge University Departments, whose role is to promote academic collaborations in Soft Matter Science across the University. Scientific consultation is undertaken by six academic organisers – please see the Organisers tab above for further information.

Registration

Once you have registered your interest you will be sent instruction on how to pay for your registration fees. We cannot fully confirm your place until you have settled your payment.

You will be able to choose from the following:

• In-person Registration – £200.00
• Virtual Registration – £30.00

Optional extras:

• College Accommodation – Wednesday 10th September 2025 - £89.50
• College Accommodation – Thursday 11th September 2025 - £89.50
• College Dinner £60.00

Source: https://gateway.newton.ac.uk/event/tgm150/