For a half-century and more, scholars from diverse disciplines in physical and life sciences, anthropology, sociology, linguistics, engineering, informatics, economics, philosophy, and theology have contemplated the nature of evolving systems. Why is our universe so patterned and complex? A number of provocative ideas, including assembly theory, constructal law, dissipation-driven adaptation, emergence, open-ended evolution, and many more, are both in competition and overlapping. However, differences in vocabulary and discipline are often barriers to common understanding.

The core objective of the Workshop on Information, Selection, and Evolution is to bring together some of the world’s most thoughtful and influential thinkers from various backgrounds to listen, learn, and share ideas related to lawful, universal processes by which order arises in the cosmos.

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Event Details

A sunset over the Washington Memorial in Washington DC. Sourced from Canva

Accommodations

Conveniently connected to the best of Washington, DC! The workshop hotel, Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Chevy Chase Pavilion, is attached to the Friendship Heights Metro Station on the Red Line for easy access. 

Because the hotel is about 1.3 miles away from the Earth and Planets Laboratory, we have arranged a shuttle to take people to and from the workshop. More details to come. 

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Spring Campus

Our Campus

The WISE Workshop will be held on the lush grounds of the Earth and Planets Laboratory in the Greenewalt building. You can find the Greenwalt building sitting nestled next to the historic Atomic Physics Observatory. 

Pictured: The Greenewalt building (left) sits to the left of the Atomic Physics Observatory (right.) 

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Program and Agenda

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Apply for Mini-WISE Meeting

Announcing the launch of Mini-WISE Meetings, supported by the Templeton Foundation and Carnegie Science. These small, multi-disciplinary workshops, set for 2025-2026, aim to extend the impact of WISE by fostering new collaborations and advancing research on complex evolving systems. Up to 12 teams will receive organizational grants of up to $5,000 to explore topics such as open-ended evolution, the role of information in evolving systems, and more. Eligible teams must include researchers from different institutions and disciplines, with at least two pre-tenure members. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

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