Effective Theories, Mixed Scale Modeling, and Emergence

2 - 4 October 2015
Center for Philosophy of Science
817 Cathedral of Learning
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA USA

::: PHOTO ALBUM

Speakers:

Alisa Bokulich (Boston University) Keynote
Nigel Goldenfeld (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Keynote
Leo Kadanoff (University of Chicago) Keynote CANCELED, See Notes Below
Wendy Parker (Durham University) Keynote

Mark Bedau (Philosophy, Reed College)
Karen Crowther (Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh)
Sebastian de Haro (Philosophy, University of Cambridge and University of Amsterdam)
Nicolas Fillion (Philosophy and Center for Scientific Computing, Simon Fraser University) CANCELED, See Notes Below
Samuel Fletcher (Philosophy, Univ. of Minnesota and Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy)
Ken Jordan (Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh)
Patrick McGivern (Philosophy, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry
University of Wollongong)
Patricia Palacios (Philosophy, Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy)
Joshua Rosaler (Philosophy, University of Minnesota)
Porter Williams (Philosophy, Columbia University)
Mark Wilson (Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh)

::: DETAILED CONFERENCE PROGRAM

::: View/Download Abtracts (PDF)
::: Leo Kadanoff Talk (PDF) Unfortunately, Dr. Kadanoff had to cancel due to health reasons. You may download a PDF of the notes from his planned talk at this link.


This conference will bring together philosophers interested in modeling, effective theories, emergence and reduction with scientists and applied mathematicians working on analytic and computational multiscale techniques.

How can data be extracted from observations of systems at a variety of spatial and temporal scales and then be combined to understand phenomena without any attempt to reduce the theories or models appropriate at some scale to those appropriate at another? Many such "mixed-level" explanations are, it seems, essential to successful scientific investigation. Multiscale modeling is playing an increasing role in many areas of science, including climate science, materials science, and developmental biology. This work suggests that interesting methods have by and large been overlooked by philosophers who primarily treat modeling (and intertheory relations) as restricted to two (spatial) scales---the "macroscopic" and the "microscopic." One aim of the conference is to consider the implication of recent work on the nature of multiscale modeling for our understanding of material behaviors, effective theories, and the kind of autonomy that often accompanies claims about emergence.

This is a two and a half day event to be held October 2-4, 2015 at the University of Pittsburgh.

Program Committee:
Robert Batterman, Chair (University of Pittsburgh), rbatterm@pitt.edu
Karen Crowther (University of Pittsburgh)
Ian McKay (University of Pittsburgh)
Chris Smeenk (University of Western Ontario)
Mark Wilson (University of Pittsburgh)

Sponsors:
The John Templeton Foundation
Center for Philosophy of Science