Symmetry and Unification -- can Physics be reduced to a single formula?

Abstract
"Attempts to `unify' all of known physics have a long history. Since the mid-seventies, these attempts have been considerably re-invigorated with ongoing efforts to reconcile Einstein's theory of General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics into a unified theory of quantum gravity. In this talk I will review the motivation as well as some more recent developments at an introductory level and discuss prospects for the future."