A hallmark of many natural systems, from galaxies, to solar systems, planets, chemical systems, and biology (both at the organismal and ecosystem/societal level) is the fact that due to their having many interacting and interdependent components, coupled with large degrees of freedom, they may access a multitude of dynamical states as they evolve. Collaborations between these processes may give rise to the emergence of new dynamical states with novel traits. In the unfolding history of the universe we see multiple transitions from abundant free energy towards sparsity across vast spatio-temporal scales, with a variety of emergent processes competing for sustenance. The 7th ELSI Symposium will explore the parallels and differences of emergent system dynamics across many fields of study, ranging from astrophysics to sociology, before turning to the question of emergence itself, what it is, how to measure it, and how to use these concepts as a tool for trans-disciplinary cross-fertilization in the natural sciences.