In cosmology probabilities appear in multiple different guises. We use them when we assess the naturalness of a certain value of the cosmological constant, when we assign likelihoods to possible initial conditions of the universe, when we judge the probability of cosmic inflation, or when we ascribe the probability of there being life in certain universes in the vicinity of certain types of stars. In this workshop we aim to identify differences and commonalities in the use of different applications of probability in cosmology, and to distinguish fruitful and legitimate uses from misleading and illegitimate ones.
This workshop brings together specialists from different physical and philosophical disciplines including epistemology, philosophy of statistical mechanics, general relativity, quantum gravity, string theory, and astrobiology. It starts on Friday 21 June in the evening with a popular lecture by Sabine Hossenfelder, based on her recent book Lost in Math. Invited and contributed talks will be scheduled on Saturday 22 June and Sunday 23 June.
Submissions of abstracts for contributed talks by researchers from diverse backgrounds are very welcome! Abstracts should be around 300 words. They should be sent to Simon Friederich.
A limited number of travel grants for graduate students and early career researchers is available. If you are interested in such a grant, please indicate this when submitting your abstract and briefly sketch your motivation for contributing to the workshop.
Deadline for abstract submission: 31 March 2019.
Decision letters will be sent out no later than 5 April 2019.
Invited speakers:
- Pratika Dayal (University of Groningen)
- Sabine Hossenfelder (Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies)
- Katie Robertson (University of Cambridge)
- Chris Smeenk (University of Western Ontario)
- David Sloan (University of Lancaster)
- Robert Wald (University of Chicago)
- Claire Zukowski (University of Amsterdam)
The workshop is organized by Simon Friederich, Sean Gryb, and Diederik
Roest (University of Groningen).
For further information please contact Simon Friederich (s.m.friederich@rug.nl).