Books

Wenner-Gren Volume 80
Symmetry 2000

Edited by I Hargittai and T Laurent

University of Budapest, Hungary and University of Uppsala, Sweden

Wenner-Gren

The Wenner-Gren Foundations hosted an international symposium 'Symmetry 2000' on September 13-16, 2000. This latest volume in the Wenner-Gren series details the proceedings of this symposium.

This volume demonstrates the use of the symmetry concept in the most diverse fields and helps envisioning its further applications. The collection of contributions represents and encourages further discussion between different disciplines using the symmetry concept as a linker.

Scientists, mathematicians, engineers, sociologists, artists, humanists, and educators join forces in this volume to present their disciplines from a common viewpoint, which is the presence and use of the symmetry concept in the most diverse areas of human endeavour. This multidisciplinary approach helps us realise the unity of the world around us and helps to appreciate the different fields of human activities.

The outcome of the different approaches uncovers enhanced potentials of the symmetry concept in general education and brings the different disciplines, including the sciences, closer to the general public.

This book should be of interest to the most diverse readership, to scientists, artists, humanists and educators, indeed anyone with an interest in the topic.

Contents: Part 1

Shapes and fractals

The rhombic triacontahedron HSM Coxeter

On the use of symmetry for constructing polyhedron models MS Lounget-Higgins

Tiling, packing and tessellation T Ogawa et al

Dual symmetry for plane and point based structures T Wester

Symmetrical patterns on a sphere MJ Wenninger

Levels of orderliness: global and local symmetry B Grünbaum

n–Dimensional semi–regular chiral polytopes K Miyazaki and S Yamaguchi

Symmetrical explorations inspired by the study of African cultural activities
P Gerdes

What was known about the polyhedra in ancient China and Edo Japan?
T Kobayashi

Reflections on the kaleidoscope M Senechal

Designs in fractal symmetry MW Aston

Optimum packing of circles in a circle T Tarnai

Symmetry by dilation/reduction, fractals and roughness BB Mandelbrot

Properties and regularities

The shape of two-dimensional space AL Mackay

Space filling in molecular crystals JD Dunitz

The many faces of symmetry in the work of M.C. Escher D Schattschneider

Periodic and non–periodic patterns (tesselation) I Olovsson

Pentagon tessellation in cystalline and quasicrystalline phases KH Kuo

From symmetries to properties: a case study of a steel containing quasicrystalline precipitates Jan–Olof Nilsson

XX–TEX – textiles and crystallography A Haake

Computational symmetry Y Liu

On the origin of the platonic bodies and some of their relatives I Bergström and S Fregert

Pythagoreanism in atomic, nuclear and particle physics Y Ne'eman

Symmetry and chirality

Chirality and achirality in life R Kuroda

The role of spontaneous breaking of mirror symmetry in chemical and prebiotic evolution VI Goldanski

Crystal optics and the symmetry principle: an update W Kaminsky and B Kahr

From symmetry to asymmetry – electroweak parity violation and biomolecular homochirality P Schwerdtfeger and U Müller–Herold

Contents: Part 2

Molecules and assemblies

Spontaneous formation of symmetrical structures in polymer solutions
TC Laurent and Lars–Olof Sundelöf

Self–organization of interacting round particles into symmetric or asymmetric aggregates M Markus et al

Fibonacci phyllotaxis: mathematically speaking R Dixon

The symmetry of spiral phyllotaxis: an artist's view CE Sabin

A general view of symmetry considerations in NMR spectroscopy R Glaser

Seven–fold dynamical symmetry in solid–state NMR MH Levitt

Molecular asymmetry of odour signals: distinctive stereoisomers creating species specificity in pine sawfly pheromones G Bergström and AB Wassgren

Social culture

Symmetry as a quality indicator of individuals: examples from studies of animal welfare, disease and sexual selection AP Mřller

Untangling the tangled net: symmetry and the Internet E Hargittai

The cultural salience of symmetry D Washburn

Symmetry in action: the laws of Nature DH Rouvray

Optical art: 'illusions' and paradoxes of symmetry and quantum mechanics
G Caglioti

Natural structures and forms: bridges between ancient and modern graphics – from Eurasian folk art to computer graphics Sz. Bérczi and S Kabai

Dynamic symmetry: cinema and mathematics M Emmer

Artistic symmetry

Artistic expressions of mirror, reflection and perspective I Orosz

The songs of the double helix: symmetry and lyrical conceptualism P Hartal

Spreading symmetry through artworks MT Krasek

Symmetry as a structural element for art O Zouni

Symmetrical sculpture P Svensson

Symmetry concepts in quilt and fabric design J Beyer

Time of Silence: Luis Martín–Santos' engagement with symmetry and history in Franco's Spain R Lázaro

Symmetry compositions in Pushkin's works: an experience of natural scientific reading VA Koptsik

Alexander Pushkin and the laws of symmetry AV Voloshinov

Epilogue

The unreasonable effectiveness of the symmetry concept (homage to Eugene P. Wigner) I Hargittai

Subject index

Sales enquiries Portland Customer Services Portland Press Ltd. Commerce Way Colchester CO2 8HP UK Tel: +44 (0)1206 796351 Fax: +44 (0)1206 799331 E-mail: sales@portland-services.com Map

Editorial enquiries Portland Press Ltd. Third floor Charles Darwin House 12 Roger Street London WC1N 2JU Tel: +44(0) 20 7685 2410 Fax: +44(0) 20 7685 2469 E-mail: editorial@portlandpress.com