Materializing Sense-Assess-Response Dynamics

The 2025 Complex Active and Adaptive Material Systems GRC will bring together a community of diverse, multidisciplinary researchers to explore the frontier of formulating and harnessing `sense-assess-response’ dynamic loops as a foundational construct for the next generation of active, adaptive and autonomous material systems. Together, leading physicists, chemists, biologists, material scientists and engineers will discuss novel routes to identify, embed and exploit feedback mechanisms to achieve advanced functionality in adaptive material systems. Focus areas will include material chemistries with oscillatory multiphysics coupling, multiscale collective behaviour, the role of architecture and physical embodiment to facilitate information processing and feedback, and rich insights from cellular-, tissue-, and organism-level biological systems for leveraging dynamics and self-regulation to induce order, function and autonomy.

As the premier international scientific gathering focused on complex active and adaptive material systems, this conference enthusiastically embraces the GRC mandates of presenting the latest breakthroughs and prioritizing substantive discussion, guided by leaders in the field from across the international scientific community. Early career researchers will play a crucial role in these discussions, and interactions among scientists of all career stages will be encouraged. This five-day conference in beautiful Ventura California aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and spark innovative approaches to a wide-range of complex systems. Join us as we convene a diverse group of researchers excited to build the future of self-animate material systems.