Complexity of Life Conference 2026

Transitions: From Fundamental Principles to Global Challenges

September 7 – 11, 2026
University of Graz
Austria

There are no conference fees, attendance is completely free! Just be sure to register before the deadline to secure your spot.

Submission Deadline: June 1, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: July 1, 2026
Registration Deadline: August 24, 2026

ABOUT

We are pleased to invite you to the Complexity of Life Conference 2026 taking place at the University of Graz from 7^th to 11^th of September 2026.

Understanding the relations between the different dynamical and structural levels coexisting in complex systems is key to understanding their functioning, but also represents a formidable challenge. Nowhere is this challenge more evident than in our attempts to understand life. Addressing it will require a collective, creative, and necessarily interdisciplinary effort, brought together by the participants of the Complexity of Life Conference.

TOPIC

The study of life is inherently a study of transitions. Across scales and scientific disciplines, life is shaped by many qualitative changes, such as developmental transitions, ecological regime shifts, innovative disruptions, and social transformations, among many others. This year’s theme, “Transitions: From Fundamental Principles to Global Challenges”, encourages contributions that study how our systems of life transition, reorganize, and transform.

KEY SPEAKERS (confirmed)

Andrea Baronchelli
City St George's University of London

Douglas Guilbeault
Stanford Graduate School of Business

Rudolf Hanel
Complexity Science Hub, Vienna
Medical University of Vienna

Ilona Otto
University of Graz

Hiroki Sayama
Binghamton State University of New York

Peter Klimek
Complexity Science Hub, Vienna

Bernat Corominas Murtra
University of Graz

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Beyond the key notes and public lecture, participants can engage through contributed talks and dedicated poster sessions designed to foster deep scientific exchange and professional networking. In line with this year's conference topic “Transitions: From Fundamental Principles to Global Challenges”, we welcome submissions for contributions across all areas of complexity of life research, including (but not limited to):

Fundamentals of Transitions

Critical transitions, tipping points, and regime shifts
Self-organization, emergence, and pattern formation
Phase transition and resilience in complex systems
Computational and data-driven approaches to transitions
Transition prediction, and early warning signal analysis
Multi-level dynamics and cross-scale interactions

Major Transitions & Global Challenges

Evolutionary and developmental transitions
Cognitive, behavioral, and social transitions
Ecological regime shifts
Innovative disruptions in economy
Transformations of socio-economic systems and windows of opportunity
Applications in sustainability, economy, health, technology, and innovation

Submit now!

Submit your contribution to the Complexity of Life Conference 2026 by June 1 the lastest via our submission form. Notifications of acceptance will be sent after July 1.

There are no conference fees, attendance is completely free! Just be sure to register before the deadline to secure your spot.

VENUE

The University of Graz is a public research university located in Graz, Austria. It is the largest and oldest university in Styria, as well as the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria. The university is associated with numerous Nobel prize laureates and is highly regarded. The university was founded in 1585 by Archduke Charles II of Austria, and was closed in 1782 by Emperor Joseph II to transform it into a lyceum, where civil servants and medical personnel were trained. In 1827 it was re-instituted as a university by Emperor Francis I, thus gaining the name Karl-Franzens-Universität. As of 2025, more than 30,000 students are enrolled at the university.