First Notice
Sixth Quadrennial Fellows Conference 2008

The Center for Philosophy of Science and the Department of Philosophy, Ohio University, invite Visiting and Resident Fellows of the Center for Philosophy of Science to the Sixth Quadrennial Fellows Conference. It will be held Sunday, 20 July to Thursday, 24 July 2008, at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. (Arrival on Sunday, 20 July ; departure on Thursday, 24 July; academic program Monday, 21 July to Wednesday, 23 July.)

This conference continues the tradition of earlier conferences in reuniting Visiting Fellows and Resident Fellows of the Center for Philosophy of Science. As a result, participation is limited to the Center's Visiting and Resident Fellows and members of the conference's host institution, the Department of Philosophy, Ohio University.

The Program

We will be issuing a call for papers later in the year with deadline for submission of 29 February 2008. As before papers in all areas of philosophy of science are welcome and the program committee will endeavour to accommodate most proposals. Unlike previous meetings, we will not be soliciting commentators. However we would welcome proposals for collaborative sessions of related talks or speaker-commentator pairs.

The theme of the conference will be "International Philosophy of Science" and we will schedule special sessions devoted to philosophy of science in various countries, if we receive appropriate proposals.

Support

Our expectation is that local costs (accommodation and some meals) for the conference will be covered by the conference and that participants will find support elsewhere to cover their travel costs. Our hope is that participation in an internationally themed session devoted to a Fellow's home country may assist the Fellow in securing financial support to defray costs of the trip. Let us know if we can otherwise assist in local fundraising efforts.

The Center will set aside a small budget for a few Fellows with special needs for travel support.

Since an invitation to officiate at the conference may prove helpful to participants who are not speakers, the Center will issue formal invitations to Fellows who need them to chair a session or to be a conference discussant. (The onus of a "discussant" is to take responsibility for initiating discussion after a talk.)

The Venue

Ohio University provides the perfect venue for our reunion conference. Its campus, founded in 1804, is laid out on the model of a classical 19th century university. It is beautifully landscaped and a pleasure to stroll in. We fully expect discussions that begin in the lecture hall to extend into a quiet corner under a shady tree.

The town of Athens in Ohio is a little gem of real Americana. It is a classic US ru4/24/08e university community it embraces. There are many places within a short walk of the university to find a meal or just a drink, as well as a wide range of eateries in Baker Center on the university campus itself.

The Ohio University Inn is a comfortable, full service hotel located adjacent to the Ohio University campus. There is excellent dining in its restaurant.

See photos of the campus, the town and the hotel.

Planning

If you are now able to say whether you think it likely or unlikely you will attend, please let us know. (Respond to Joyce at pittcntr@pitt.edu)

Organizing Committee

Philip Ehrlich (Ohio University) and John D. Norton (University of Pittburgh), Co-Chairs
Peter Gildenhuys (University of Pittsburgh)
Wendy Parker (Ohio University)
Arthur Zucker (Ohio University), consultant

The organizers gratefully acknowledge support from the Offices of the Provost, the Dean of Arts and Sciences and the Vice President of Research of Ohio University.