- philphysmunich - lists.lrz.de

Second CFA: Alternative Approaches to Scientific Realism
by Neil Dewar Oct. 31, 2019

Oct. 31, 2019

Second CFA: Alternative Approaches to Scientific Realism Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy April 16-17, 2020 Topic There has been a recent move in philosophy of science towards views that in some sense reject the strict dichotomy between realism and anti-realism, or otherwise situate themselves between these two extremes. These include varieties of structuralism, perspectivalism, and pluralism/relativism, and have been applied across various scientific domains, including physics, mathematics, biology, cognitive science, and computer science. It seems plausible that each of these views might share some motivations and have in mind a similar target, i.e. the idea that there is an attitude we could hold towards our scientific theories that is somehow 'less' demanding than full-blown realism, and yet somehow 'more' rigorous than full-blown anti-realism. This conference will bring together representatives of each of these viewpoints, in order to compare the respective progress made by each approach, and to develop a shared foundation for the future development of alternatives to traditional scientific realism and anti-realism. Confirmed Keynote Speakers James Ladyman, University of Bristol Michela Massimi, University of Edinburgh Martin Kusch, University of Vienna Call for Abstracts (deadline 15 December 2019) Up to three additional speaking slots are reserved for early career researchers, to be filled on a competitive basis. We welcome submission of 500 word abstracts on any topic related to the themes of the conference. Possible topics include (but are not limited to): What is the common ground between structuralist, perspectivalist, pluralist, and relativist approaches to scientific theory and practice? What are the major differences between these approaches? How might insights from each approach be applied to problems faced by the others? Should we take a different approach (qua realism) to scientific theorising in distinct fields or domains? Could one (or more) of these approaches be collapsed into a single shared approach? Are these approaches all 'stable', or do they risk collapsing into either full-blown realism or anti-realism? Are these approaches merely provisional, until we reach a 'completed' science, or should we adopt an 'in-principle' structuralist, perspectivalist, or relativist approach towards science? We will be able to cover all travel and accommodation expenses for accepted speakers from Europe, and to subsidise travel expenses from further afield (enabled by a generous grant from the DFG). Abstracts should be suitably blinded, and submitted to https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=aatsr19 <https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=aatsr19>. The deadline for submissions is December 15, 2019. Questions should be directed to Joe Dewhurst (J.Dewhurst(a)lmu.de <mailto:J.Dewhurst@lmu.de>).

1 0

Fwd: [quantum-foundations] Phd position in Vienna
by Neil Dewar Sept. 12, 2019

Sept. 12, 2019

Apologies for cross-posting. Neil > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Costantino Budroni <costantino.budroni(a)univie.ac.at> > Subject: [quantum-foundations] Phd position in Vienna > Date: 11. September 2019 at 03:47:06 GMT-4 > To: quantum-foundations(a)maillist.ox.ac.uk, Baumeler, Ämin <Aemin.Baumeler(a)oeaw.ac.at>, "Guryanova, Yelena" <Yelena.Guryanova(a)oeaw.ac.at> > Reply-To: Costantino Budroni <costantino.budroni(a)univie.ac.at> > > A PhD-student position is available in the „Young Independent Researcher Group“ lead by Dr. Yelena Guryanova, Dr. Ämin Baumeler, > and Dr. Costantino Budroni. This group is inter-institutional; it is affiliated with the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum > Information (IQOQI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, as well as with the Department of Physics, University of Vienna, Vienna, > Austria. > > The research performed will be on the project „Emergence of Causal Order in Quantum Theory and Beyond“. The project deals with > causality in the interplay between theoretical physics and theoretical computer science (see https://www.iqoqi-vienna.at/research/yirg-young-independent-researcher-grou… ) > > > We are looking for a student with a background in Physics, Computer Science, or Mathematics, with interests in > > - Foundations of Quantum Mechanics > - Quantum Information > - Theoretical Computer Science > > We expect the position to start in November 2019. > > > To apply please send your CV and a 1-page motivation letter to: > Costantino Budroni: costantino.budroni(a)univie.ac.at > > Application deadline: 30th September 2019 > >

1 0

Call for Participation: ILMPS 2019 Conference
by Giovanni Valente Aug. 20, 2019

Aug. 20, 2019

Irvine-London-Munich-PoliMi-Salzburg Conference in Philosophy and Foundations of Physics Workshop: "Symmetry and Equivalence in Physics" Dates: September 2-4, 2019 Venue: HS 301, Franziskanergasse 1, 5020 Salzburg (Austria) 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 series aims to bring together philosophers, physicists, and mathematicians working on such issues. This year’s event will be held on September 2-3, 2019 at the University of Salzburg (Austria). It will immediately precede a workshop on “Symmetry and Equivalence in Physics” taking place on September 3-4, 2019. Speakers for the workshop include Adam Caulton (Oxford), Ben Feintzeig (Washington), Doreen Fraser (Waterloo), Karen Crowther (Geneve), Giovanni Valente (Milan), and David Wallace (Pittsburgh). For more information visit: https://ilmpsnetwork.wordpress.com/schedule-2019/ The conference is dedicated to the memory of Aristidis Arageorgis (1961-2018). Organizing committee: Erik Curiel (Munich), Patricia Palacios (Salzburg), Bryan Roberts (LSE), Giovanni Valente (Milan), Jim Weatherall (Irvine), and Charlotte Werndl (Salzburg)

1 0

CFA: Alternative Approaches to Scientific Realism
by Neil Dewar Aug. 19, 2019

Aug. 19, 2019

First CFA: Alternative Approaches to Scientific Realism Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy April 16-17, 2020 Topic There has been a recent move in philosophy of science towards views that in some sense reject the strict dichotomy between realism and anti-realism, or otherwise situate themselves between these two extremes. These include varieties of structuralism, perspectivalism, and pluralism/relativism, and have been applied across various scientific domains, including physics, mathematics, biology, cognitive science, and computer science. It seems plausible that each of these views might share some motivations and have in mind a similar target, i.e. the idea that there is an attitude we could hold towards our scientific theories that is somehow ‘less’ demanding than full-blown realism, and yet somehow ‘more’ rigorous than full-blown anti-realism. This conference will bring together representatives of each of these viewpoints, in order to compare the respective progress made by each approach, and to develop a shared foundation for the future development of alternatives to traditional scientific realism and anti-realism. Confirmed Keynote Speakers James Ladyman, University of Bristol Michela Massimi, University of Edinburgh Martin Kusch, University of Vienna Call for Abstracts (deadline 15 December 2019) Up to three additional speaking slots are reserved for early career researchers, to be filled on a competitive basis. We welcome submission of 500 word abstracts on any topic related to the themes of the conference. Possible topics include (but are not limited to): What is the common ground between structuralist, perspectivalist, pluralist, and relativist approaches to scientific theory and practice? What are the major differences between these approaches? How might insights from each approach be applied to problems faced by the others? Should we take a different approach (qua realism) to scientific theorising in distinct fields or domains? Could one (or more) of these approaches be collapsed into a single shared approach? Are these approaches all ‘stable’, or do they risk collapsing into either full-blown realism or anti-realism? Are these approaches merely provisional, until we reach a ‘completed’ science, or should we adopt an ‘in-principle’ structuralist, perspectivalist, or relativist approach towards science? We hope to be able to cover all travel and accommodation expenses for accepted speakers, conditional on available funding. Abstracts should be suitably blinded, and submitted to https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=aatsr19. The deadline for submissions is December 15, 2019. Questions should be directed to Joe Dewhurst (J.Dewhurst(a)lmu.de) -- Neil Dewar Assistant Professor Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftstheorie Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Ludwigstraße 31 80539 München, Deutschland neildewar.wordpress.com <http://neildewar.wordpress.com/>

1 0

Registration for Conference "All Things Reichenbach" at MCMP (LMU Munich)
by Erik Curiel July 7, 2019

July 7, 2019

The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy invites registration for the following event: All Things Reichenbach MCMP, LMU Munich 22-24 July, 2019 http://www.lmu.de/reichenbach2019 ********************************************* Hans Reichenbach (1891-1953), one of the founding fathers of Logical Empiricism, is among the most important philosophers of science of the Twentieth Century and without doubt one of the most prominent philosophers of physics of the first half of the past century. Many of his ideas still retain their interest in current philosophy of science, and his work continues to be influential, often in unnoticed but deep ways. This conference is dedicated to highlighting the importance of Reichenbach and his legacy, across all areas of his thought, specifically focusing on the issues raised within his work, and on the current debates surrounding them. *Registration* Please send registration requests by 15 July 2019 to the co-chair Erik Curiel <Erik.Curiel(a)lrz.uni-muenchen.de>. The email should have the subject: "register Reichenbach conference" and should indicate whether you plan to attend the conference dinner (23 July, 2019). The conference dinner will cost EUR 35 (alcohol not included). Regular conference fee: EUR 80 Reduced conference fee (graduate students, etc.): EUR 50 Conference dinner (alcohol not included): EUR 35 *Organizers* * <http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/people/faculty/curiel/index.html> Erik Curiel, MCMP/LMU Munich (co-chair) * <http://flaviapadovani.org> Flavia Padovani, Department of English & Philosophy, Drexel University (co-chair) *Acknowledgments* The conference is organized and supported by the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (LMU Munich) <http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/index.html>. The conference is partly funded by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft <http://www.dfg.de/en/>, and by support from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation <http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/start.html> and from the Lichtenberg Group for History and Philosophy of Physics at the University of Bonn <https://www.history-and-philosophy-of-physics.com/>. -- Erik Curiel http://strangebeautiful.com Assistant Professor Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftstheorie Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Ludwigstraße 31 80539 München, Deutschland http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de BHI Research Fellow Black Hole Initiative Harvard University http://bhi.fas.harvard.edu Research Fellow Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Radio and Geoastronomy Division https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/rg -- Erik Curiel http://strangebeautiful.com Assistant Professor Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftstheorie Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Ludwigstraße 31 80539 München, Deutschland http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de BHI Research Fellow Black Hole Initiative Harvard University http://bhi.fas.harvard.edu Research Fellow Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Radio and Geoastronomy Division https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/rg

1 0

Fwd: [quantum-foundations] History for Physics: Quantum Foundations - Symposium in Vienna
by Neil Dewar June 24, 2019

June 24, 2019

See below (apologies for cross-posting). -- Neil Dewar Assistant Professor Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftstheorie Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Ludwigstraße 31 80539 München, Deutschland neildewar.wordpress.com <http://neildewar.wordpress.com/> > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Bernadette Lessel <blessel(a)mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de> > Subject: [quantum-foundations] History for Physics: Quantum Foundations - Symposium in Vienna > Date: 20 June 2019 at 17:28:19 CEST > To: quantum-foundations <quantum-foundations(a)maillist.ox.ac.uk> > Reply-To: Bernadette Lessel <blessel(a)mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de> > > Dear Colleagues and Friends, > > We invite you to participate and submit a contributed talk to the two-day symposium “History for Physics: Quantum Foundations”, to be held on September 23-24, 2019 at the Faculty for Physics of the University of Vienna (Austria). Jointly organized by the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Vienna (IQOQI-Vienna) and the Max Planck Research Group “Historical Epistemology of the Final Theory Program” at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) in Berlin, this symposium aims at demonstrating the importance of the history of physics within current research in physics itself. Researchers and students in physics who are not, or not yet, engaged in the history of physics are therefore particularly welcomed to join. > > The core format of this symposium will be that of tandem talks. Each tandem will pair two presentations, one given by a physicist on a current research topic, the other given by an historian of physics providing the historical context to that topic. > > We are delighted to announce the following two confirmed invited tandems: > > David Kaiser (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Christopher Fuchs (University of Massachusetts Boston) > > Olival Freire Jr. (Federal University of Bahia) and Daniel Greenberger (City College of New York) > > > We furthermore call for contributed talks. We welcome talks which are either > single history talks on quantum foundations > physics/history-tandems on quantum foundations > presentations of historically relevant papers in quantum foundations > In case you are interested in participating in tandem, but do not have a tandem-partner, please contact the organizers, who will then try to match tandems together. We also highly welcome history talks by non-historians. > If you wish to contribute in one of those ways, please send an abstract of your proposed talk, no longer than half an A4 page, to hfp(a)mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de <mailto:hfp@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de>. The deadline for applications is 30.07.2019. > Additionally, we will schedule a panel discussion on the relevance of the history of physics for research and education and its current realization within academic structures. Panelists will be announced soon. > > "History for Physics: Quantum Foundations" is the first of so far two scheduled events of this kind. The second, on quantum gravity, is going to be held on November 28-29, 2019 at the Albert Einstein Institute (AEI) in Potsdam-Golm (Germany), where Alexander Blum (MPIWG) & Hermann Nicolai (AEI) and Thiago Hartz (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro) & Claus Kiefer (University of Cologne) are confirmed tandem-speakers. > > Both symposia are free of charge and open to all. If you wish to attend without contributing a talk, we kindly ask for registration by sending an e-mail to hfp(a)mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de <mailto:hfp@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de>. > > For further information please check the event-website, http://bit.ly/historyforphysics <http://bit.ly/historyforphysics>, or write to the organizers at the mentioned e-mail address. > Please feel free to forward this invitation to everybody who could be interested in attending. > > With kind regards, > Bernadette Lessel (MPIWG) > Flavio Del Santo (IQOQI-Vienna) > >

1 0

Call for Participation: MCMP-Western Ontario Workshop on Computation in Scientific Theory and Practice (31 May - 2 June 2019)
by Michael Cuffaro May 24, 2019

May 24, 2019

*********************************************************************** MCMP-Western Ontario Workshop on Computation in Scientific Theory and Practice LMU Munich 31 May - 2 June 2019 https://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/events/workshops/container/ws_… *********************************************************************** The goal of this interdisciplinary meeting is to explore philosophical and historical issues that arise at the intersection of theoretical computer science, mathematics, and natural science, including issues that arise in the practice of those disciplines. Topics to be discussed will include, but are not limited to: the history of computer science; the foundations of computation and mathematical cognition; computational and informational perspectives on scientific decision making, scientific methodology, and the characterisation of scientific theories; physical notions of computation and the 'Physical Church-Turing Thesis'. INVITED SPEAKERS: * Dan Christensen (University of Western Ontario) * Robert Corless (University of Western Ontario) * Walter Dean (University of Warwick) * Benedict Eastaugh (MCMP/LMU Munich) * Laura Felline (University of Rome 3) * Stephan Hartmann (MCMP/LMU Munich) * Markus Mueller (Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Vienna) * Wayne Myrvold (University of Western Ontario) * Gualtiero Piccinini (University of Missouri St. Louis) * Paula Quinon (Warsaw University of Technology/University of Lund) * Tom Sterkenburg (MCMP/LMU Munich) * Máté Szabo (University of Lorraine/University of Paris 1) SPEAKERS FOR CONTRIBUTED TALKS: * Thomas De Saegher * Samuel Fletcher * Corey Maley * Robert Moir * Allan Olley * Philippos Papayannopoulos * Tomasz Steifer and Dariusz Kalociński * Gašper Štukelj DATES AND REGISTRATION: Conference Date: 31 May - 2 June 2019 Registration Fees: * Regular fee: 80 EUR * Reduced fee (for graduate students): 50 EUR * Members of the MCMP and LMU: participation free of charge The fee should be payed in cash at the conference site. The conference dinner is not included. The additional fee for the conference dinner is 30 EUR. The participation is optional. If you would like to attend the conference, please register in advance by emailing the organisers at cstp2019(a)easychair.org. FURTHER INFORMATION (PROGRAM, PRACTICAL INFO, ETC.) See https://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/events/workshops/container/ws_… ORGANIZERS: * Marianna Antonutti Marfori (MCMP/LMU Munich) * Michael Cuffaro (Rotman Institute of Philosophy/Western Ontario and MCMP)

1 0

Fwd: [MCMP] May 4 mini-workshop on relativistic causality
by Michael Cuffaro April 21, 2019

April 21, 2019

-------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: [MCMP] May 4 mini-workshop on relativistic causality Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2019 07:30:16 +0000 From: Redei,M <M.Redei(a)lse.ac.uk> Reply-To: m.redei(a)lse.ac.uk To: Mcmp Local <mcmp-local(a)googlegroups.com> Dear All, We will have a one-day mini-workshop on relativistic causality on May 4: Details here: https://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/events/workshops/container/ws_… Speakers * Neil Dewar <https://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/people/faculty/dewar_neil/inde…>(MCMP) * John Dougherty <https://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/people/faculty/dougherty_john/…>(MCMP) * Gábor Hofer-Szabó <http://hps.elte.hu/~gszabo/> (Budapest) * Miklós Rédei <http://www.lse.ac.uk/cpnss/people/miklos-redei> (LSE/MCMP) * Federico Zalamea <https://philpeople.org/profiles/federico-zalamea>(Paris) Attendance Attendance is free but please send a email to m.redei(a)lse.ac.uk <mailto:m.redei@lse.ac.uk>by*April 23*if you intend to attend. Best wishes, Miklos Prof. Miklos Redei|+44-(0)-20-7955-6323| Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method <http://www.lse.ac.uk/philosophy/>|LSE <http://www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/home.aspx> Web: http://personal.lse.ac.uk/redeim/ -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MCMP Local" group. To post to this group, send email to mcmp-local(a)googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to mcmp-local%2Bunsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/mcmp-local?hl=en --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MCMP Local" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mcmp-local%2Bunsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com <mailto:mcmp-local+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com>. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

1 0

Final CfA: MCMP conference "All Things Reichenbach"
by Erik Curiel April 4, 2019

April 4, 2019

The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy invites abstracts for the following event: All Things Reichenbach MCMP, LMU Munich 22-24 July, 2019 http://www.lmu.de/reichenbach2019 ********************************************* Hans Reichenbach (1891-1953), one of the founding fathers of Logical Empiricism, is among the most important philosophers of science of the Twentieth Century and without doubt one of the most prominent philosophers of physics of the first half of the past century. Many of his ideas still retain their interest in current philosophy of science, and his work continues to be influential, often in unnoticed but deep ways. This conference is dedicated to highlighting the importance of Reichenbach and his legacy, across all areas of his thought, specifically focusing on the issues raised within his work, and on the current debates surrounding them. *Call for abstracts* We invite the submission of extended abstracts for the conference. Submissions should include a title, a brief abstract (up to 200 words), and a full abstract (up to 1000 words), blinded for peer review. They should be PDF files, submitted by 06 April, 2019 to the conference's EasyChair account <https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=atr2019>. We will select up to 6 submissions for presentation at the conference. We are committed to fostering diversity and equality in our programs. Submissions from underrepresented groups are particularly welcome. The conference will be organized and run under the MCMP's code of conduct <http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/events/event-policy/index.html>. *Registration* Please send registration requests by 15 July 2019 to the co-chair Erik Curiel <Erik.Curiel(a)lrz.uni-muenchen.de>. The email should have the subject: "register Reichenbach conference" and should indicate whether you plan to attend the conference dinner (23 July, 2019). The conference dinner will cost EUR 35 (alcohol not included). *Dates and Deadlines* Deadlines for Submission: 06 April 2019 Date of Notification: 06 May 2019 Registration Deadline: 15 July 2019 *Organizers* * <http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/people/faculty/curiel/index.html> Erik Curiel, MCMP/LMU Munich (co-chair) * <http://flaviapadovani.org> Flavia Padovani, Department of English & Philosophy, Drexel University (co-chair) *Acknowledgments* The conference is organized and supported by the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (LMU Munich) <http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/index.html>. The conference is partly funded by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft <http://www.dfg.de/en/>, and by support from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation <http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/start.html> and from the Lichtenberg Group for History and Philosophy of Physics at the University of Bonn <https://www.history-and-philosophy-of-physics.com/>. -- Erik Curiel http://strangebeautiful.com Assistant Professor Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftstheorie Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Ludwigstraße 31 80539 München, Deutschland http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de BHI Research Fellow Black Hole Initiative Harvard University http://bhi.fas.harvard.edu Research Fellow Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Radio and Geoastronomy Division https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/rg -- Erik Curiel http://strangebeautiful.com Assistant Professor Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftstheorie Fakultät für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Ludwigstraße 31 80539 München, Deutschland http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de BHI Research Fellow Black Hole Initiative Harvard University http://bhi.fas.harvard.edu Research Fellow Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Radio and Geoastronomy Division https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/rg

1 0

Conference Models of Consciousness, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford
by Johannes Kleiner Feb. 22, 2019

Feb. 22, 2019

Dear all, The scientific study of consciousness came to maturity in the 1990's as a response to seminal contributions to cognitive neuroscience, fundamental physics and analytic philosophy. It has become a major source of interest for researchers around the world and, as a field of study, has produced hundreds of papers in well-respected journals. In particular, the subject now generates sustained interest among mathematicians, physicists and other scholars who aim to translate the results of conceptual and empirical investigations into formal-mathematical models in order to derive insights that are otherwise not amenable to a less formal analysis. However, these researchers have pursued this work largely in isolation and outside of the academic mainstream. As such, we are organizing the conference "Models of Consciousness" at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford from September 9-12, two which you are cordially invited. The specific goals of this conference are two-fold. First, the conference aims to explore foundational issues, such as the relation of consciousness to complexity, and, more generally, to uncover the underlying formal structures of existing theories of consciousness. This relies on establishing new formal frameworks in which one can pose these questions in a rigorous way and which allow novel comparisons and generalizations as well as the design of experimental tests of already existing models. For this to happen, relevant mathematical structures that could guide our thinking need to be identified and coherently combined. The conference will also encourage participants to explore questions in a way that is neutral with respect to philosophical presuppositions that have dominated much of the previous research programs. Second, given the highly interdisciplinary nature of the endeavor, we intend to create a platform for researchers from different fields to connect and to facilitate collaboration. It is a milestone of the project to create a network of researchers dedicated to the topic. This is essential for the long-term goal of higher visibility and acceptance of this exciting new field of research that pertains to the understanding of the fundamental nature of agency, intelligence and consciousness in relation to the physical world. The selection of confirmed speakers, include Roger Penrose, Peter Grindrod, Chetan Prakash, and Adrian Kent, among others. Apart from invited speakers we will have talks selected through a competitive application process as well as extended discussion sessions. All details can be found on the conference website: Models of Consciousness Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford September 9 - 12, 2019 https://models-of-consciousness.org/ With best wishes on behalf of all organizers, Johannes Kleiner Johannes Kleiner Institute for Theoretical Physics Leibniz University of Hannover johannes.kleiner(a)itp.uni-hannover.de jkleiner.de <https://jkleiner.de/>

1 0