Conference on Energy Conditions: York, 20-21 September 2018

Classical energy conditions were introduced as a means of codifying generic properties of matter in general relativity. They play key roles in the singularity theorems of Hawking and Penrose and in many other results of mathematical relativity. However, not all models of classical matter obey the pointwise energy conditions, and quantum fields cannot obey any of them. This workshop will address two main themes, bringing together experts in both areas: (a) the use of weakened energy conditions in classical relativity, (b) the Quantum Energy Inequalities that can be proved for various quantum field theory models, and their consequences. In addition, related topics in mathematical relativity and quantum field theory will be discussed.

Advertisements

CFP: First Chilean Conference on the Philosophy of Physics, 28-30 November 2018

The First Chilean Conference on the Philosophy of Physics will be hosted by the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso and will take place in Santiago and Viña del Mar from 28 to 30 November 2018.

For more information, please visit the conference website at https://philphyschile.wixsite.com/2018.

Workshop: Thermodynamics as a Resource Theory (Western Ontario, June 20-22)

Thermodynamics as a Resource Theory:
Foundational and Philosophical Implications
Interdisciplinary workshop of the resource-theoretic revolution in thermodynamics

June 20-22, 2018, The University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario).

Recently, there has been a shift in the way that many physicists are approaching the science of thermodynamics. Instead of regarding its laws as purely physical laws, researchers are increasingly treating the theory as a theory about how agents, such as ourselves, can use information about a physical system as a resource for extracting useful work from the system. Seen this way, investigations into the thermodynamics of quantum systems have a deep connection with work in Quantum Information Theory.

This interdisciplinary workshop brings together philosophers and physicists to explore the philosophical and foundational implications of the resource-theoretic turn in thermodynamics.

CfA: 7th HPS Tuebingen Summer School – with Thomas Ryckman

The Forum Scientiarum (University of Tuebingen) kindly invites 15 graduate students and young researchers in the field of philosophy, physics, and mathematics, to apply for the 7th Summer School on the History and Philosophy of Science:

August 6th – August 10th, 2018

**What can we learn today from Einstein’s interface of physics and philosophy?**

five lectures by *Thomas Ryckman* (Stanford University)

and a keynote lecture by *Jeroen Van Dongen* (University of Amsterdam)

Public talk: Fay Dowker, Geneva, 17 May 2018

I would like to draw your attention to the following public talk, which is organized by the “service de communication” of the University of Geneva, with the support of the Geneva Symmetry Group (https://genevasymmetrygroup.wordpress.com/):

Thursday, 17 May 2018, 18h30, Uni Dufour (room will be advertised):

Fay Dowker, Professor of Theoretical Physics, Imperial College London:

Past, Present and Future: The Science of Time
(The talk will be in English, with simultaneous translation into French.)

Workshop ‘Fundamentality in Physics and Metaphysics’: Geneva, 29-30 May 2018

The Metaphysics of Time and its Occupants (metaphysicsoftime.wordpress.com) SNSF project is glad to present the upcoming

‘Fundamentality in Physics and Metaphysics’ Workshop
29th-30th May, 2018
University of Geneva, Switzerland

Provisional program:

Day 1: 29th
Ricky Bliss (Leigh): Fundamentality
Kit Fine (NYU): Foundations of Causal Modelling
Kelly Trodgdon (Virginia Tech): Full and Partial Grounding
Jennifer Wang (Simon Fraser): Fundamental Counterparts

CFP: First Irvine-Munich-PoliMi-Salzburg Conference in Philosophy and Foundations of Physics

First Irvine-Munich-PoliMi-Salzburg Conference in Philosophy and Foundations of Physics (IMPS 2018)

Organizing committee: Erik Curiel (Munich), Patricia Palacios (Salzburg), Giovanni Valente (Milan), Jim Weatherall (Irvine), and Charlotte Werndl (Salzburg)

Call for Papers

Over the past decades, important contributions to the mathematical and conceptual foundations of physical theories have been made within the philosophical community. Conversely, critical analysis of the formal structures of our best physical theories inform central philosophical concerns, and in some cases new theorems have been proven and new lines of argument developed that are of philosophical significance. This conference aims to bring together philosophers, physicists, and mathematicians working on such issues. The event will be held on September 3-4, 2018 at the University of Salzburg (Austria). It will immediately precede a workshop on “Time in Physics” taking place on September 4-5, 2018. Speakers for the workshop include Harvey Brown (Oxford), Patricia Palacios (Salzburg), Bryan Roberts (London), Jos Uffink (Minnesota), Francesca Vidotto (Bilbao) and Christian Wuthrich (Geneve). Papers on any topic of philosophy and foundations of physics by younger researchers, especially graduate students and post-doctoral scholars, are particularly encouraged and will be given priority. Papers of no longer than 5000 words should be submitted via EasyChair (https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=imps20180) by June 1, 2018. Decisions will be communicated by July 1, 2018. For more information visit: https://impsnetwork.wordpress.com/