Symmetry 2000: Part 1 and Part 2

I. Hargittai & T.C. Laurent, Eds.
Portland Press, London, 2002
628 pp. illus. Trade, £110.00
ISBN: 1-85578-149-2

Reviewed by Rob Harle (Australia)

harle@dodo.com.au    

Symmetry 2000 is a wonderful treasure chest of diverse investigations into symmetry in all its aspects. The book is highly relevant to the Leonardo community as quite a few of the chapters discuss in detail, the relationship and convergence of science and art, especially chapters 40 and 43.

This two-part volume represents the papers given at the symposium held at the Wenner-Gren Centre, Stockholm in September 2000. This symposium brought together an extraordinary variety of participants. "Scientists, mathematicians, engineers, sociologists, artists, humanists and educators came together; and their presentations had a common thread, the concept of symmetry" (p. xi). Whilst the majority of the chapters represent symposium presentations, the book also contains contributions from scholars outside the actual symposium whose work helped to broaden the coverage of the book.

The diversity of disciplines covered, indicates there is something of interest for everyone. When I started reading Part One, I had a growing concern that this book was for specialists only, and then, only for those with a high-level understanding of mathematics. This fear was allayed the further I read on. Just over 50 chapters cover investigations into symmetry in such areas as; classical art, quantum physics, molecular structure of materials, social and cultural phenomena, folk art, optical illusions–even the work of Alexander Pushkin. Some chapters are written in a rather dry and boring style, whilst others, with similar subject matter, are interesting and vibrant. This highlights the ongoing need for scientists to learn to convey their knowledge in a more colourful and engaging manner. I must say I found the section on Social Culture somewhat unconvincing compared with the level of sophistication in the hard sciences. The exploration of symmetry in social and anthropological studies needs to be dramatically expanded and refined before its findings will be of much use in a practical way.

Symmetry 2000 is published as two separate volumes–Part One and Part Two. I am not sure why this was necessary; I do not think a single volume would have been physically too large and would have had the advantage of always being together if needed for cross-reference. The volume is divided into six subsections as follows: Part One——Shapes and Fractals; Properties and Regularities: Symmetry and Chirality. Part Two——Molecules and Assemblies; Social Culture; Artistic Symmetry. From these titles it can be seen that the work proceeds from geometry, through science to the arts.

The text of all chapters is accompanied by numerous black & white illustrations (photos, drawings, diagrams and graphs). This is in keeping with a somewhat understated notion throughout the book that symmetry should be investigated and experienced in a visual as well as intellectual manner. The visualisation of the double-helix configuration of the structure of DNA and the building of a model to represent this, was essential for Watson & Crick in their discovery of the molecular structure of DNA. Science is increasingly using visualisation and artistic input to understand phenomena from the micro world of subatomic particles and waveforms, to the macro world of galaxies and deep space.

It is most interesting in itself that the concept of symmetry has the qualities to attract such a broad diversity of scholars and further, such an extensive range of phenomena. This book brings about a heightened awareness that almost everything we experience has qualities of symmetry and that it is important from the perspective of evolution and existence at a fundamental level. I found the chapters dealing with symmetry in nature such as the Fibonacci sequences especially interesting and inspiring. Chapters 30 and 31 present this fascinating aspect of symmetry called Fibonacci or spiral phyllotaxis.

Symmetry 2000 will appeal to a large, intellectually inclined audience. I think scientists, mathematicians and artists particularly, will find it an invaluable addition to their libraries. The book touches on so many areas of symmetry inspired research that it will provide a base to motivate even broader and more diverse investigation.