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The underlying paradigm for cosmology is theoretical physics. The EDU research community explores how it might be extended by including insights from evolutionary developmental biology. In the neo-Darwinian paradigm, adaptive evolutionary development allows the production of ordered and complex structures. More specifically, we can distinguish evolutionary processes which are contingently adaptive and developmental processes which produce statistically predictable structures and and trajectories internal to the developmental cycle. By analogy with two genetically identical twins, would two parametrically identical universes exhibit both unpredictable evolutionary differentiation, and predictably similar developmental outcomes between them? More generally, can we model our universe as an evolutionary developmental system?

The conference provides an opportunity for those working across these topics to get together and exchange ideas, results and resources. To this end, the conference will present a selection of current work in the field, highlight new directions for investigation, and present high-profile keynote speakers.