The ALife conferences are the major meeting of the artificial life research community since 1987. For its 15th edition in 2016, it will take place in Latin America for the first time, in the Mayan Riviera, Mexico, from July 4 -8. How can the synthetic study of living systems contribute to societies: scientifically, technically, and culturally? The goal of the conference theme is to better understand societies with the purpose of using this understanding for a more efficient management and development of social systems.