Symposium on “Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking”

To celebrate the upcoming publication of their textbook on Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking, Aron Beekman, Louk Rademaker and Jasper van Weze are organising a one-day symposium in Leiden, The Netherlands, on Tuesday 10 November 2026. The symposium will be held in the historical Museum Boerhaave, and is sponsored by QDNL, Delta-ITP and Quantum Limits.

The event will feature keynote speakers highlighting modern aspects of Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking that unify fields of physics including statistical mechanics, particle physics, condensed matter, and cosmology. 

Confirmed speakers include Giorgio Parisi (Nobel Prize 2021), Séamus Davis (Buckley Prize 2023), Carlo Beenakker (Spinoza Prize 1999), Jordy de Vries, and Felix Flicker.

The programme will also include a panel discussion around common misconceptions and educational opportunities surrounding Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking as highlighted in the book, as well as an exhibition showcasing modern artistic interpretations of Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking by Beatrice Scarpa.

The authors warmly invite you to join them for this scientific celebration of Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking, and the many ways in which it continues to bridge new fields and modern concepts of physics.

Registration:

Please register by following this link: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/events/2026/11/symposium-spontaneous-symmetry-breaking
There is no registration fee and lunch will be provided to registered Participants.
Participants are asked to arrange their own accomodation.