We are happy to announce our second Essay Prize Competition! Up to three prizes of $1000 will be awarded for papers on any topic concerning the philosophical foundations of quantum gravity. We are particularly (but not exclusively) interested in work that addresses the foci of the ‘Space and Time After Quantum Gravity’ project: Does quantum gravity eliminate spacetime as fundamental structure? How does quantum gravity explain the appearance of spacetime? What are the broader implications of quantum gravity or of the emergence of spacetime for metaphysical (and other) accounts of the world?

Please see more details here: https://beyondspacetime.net/essay-prize-2017-cfp/

This Friday June 17th 2016 at UIC at 3pm we have a double header from our two Geneva predoctoral fellows – please join us.

NOTE THE NON-STANDARD TIME

Radin Dardashti (Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy, and Geneva): Testing Theories, Theory Space and Scientific Practice

Abstract: “Many scientific theories in fundamental physics are lacking empirical support. While in some cases future experiments may allow empirical testing (supersymmetry), this is less obvious in other cases (theories of quantum gravity, cosmic inflation). One possible way of addressing this problem is to analyse whether empirical evidence provides the only means to confirm our theories. In this talk I will present a generalised perspective on theory confirmation, which relies on the concept of theory space. This allows us to extend the notion of theory confirmation to evidence, which is not necessarily made more or less likely by the theory itself. I will discuss the advantages of this more general perspective on scientific theory assessment, discuss some examples and what their normative implications are for the practicing scientist.” In terms of technical difficulty, this talk rates 2/5 

Juliusz Doboszewski (Jagiellonian University, and Geneva): Is anti-de Sitter spacetime physically reasonable?

Abstract: “Solutions of classical general relativity are often divided into physically reasonable and physically unreasonable ones. For example, physically reasonable spacetimes are sometimes expected to satisfy some energy condition, be globally hyperbolic, inextendible, hole free, or stable against perturbations. I will discuss (a) how conditions used to draw such a divide apply to anti-de Sitter spacetime, and (b) how violation of some of them should be interpreted in the context of gauge/gravity duality.” In terms of technical difficulty, this talk rates 4/5 

One of the winners of our essay prize, Henrique Gomes (Perimeter Institute) will speak on Wednesday May 25th 2016 at UIC. His title is Timeless Quantum Mechanics in Configuration Space

Wednesday May 11th 2016 at Geneva – Francesca Vidotto (Radboud University Nijmegen): How classical spacetime emerges in Loop Quantum Gravity

Abstract: “Is space an entity or a net of relations? Is classical spacetime emergent? If it is emergent, what is it emerging from? Is spacetime fundamentally discrete or continuous? Is time an ingredient of the fundamental equations of the world? Is time flowing? These philosophical questions need to find an answer in a concrete realisation of a quantum theory of gravity. I illustrate the basics of Loop Quantum Gravity and the specific answers that each of these (philosophical) questions finds in the context of this (physical) theory. I focus on the notion of spacetime emergence: I argue that classical spacetime emerges from the quanta of spacetime, no differently from the emergence of electromagnetism having photons. This quantum emergence is studied in Loop Quantum Gravity, where there is a notion of classical limit. This limit should not be confused with a thermodynamical limit, that may exist but it is not necessary to recover classical spacetime. These ideas can be illustrated in analogy with the case of electromagnetism.” In terms of technical difficulty, this talk rates 4/5 

We have been catching up a bit, posting lectures – now on YouTube you can see:

Eddy Keming Chen

Alastair Wilson

Jonathan Dorsey

 James Read

Karen Crowther

Abstracts, links for these (and more) in the speakers pages, accessed above.

Here are the talks in the next few weeks:

• Wednesday May 11th 2016 at Geneva – Francesca Vidotto (Nijmegen): TBA

• Wednesday May 25th 2016 at UIC – Henrique Gomes (Perimeter Institute): TBA

• Friday June 17th 2016 at UIC – DOUBLE HEADER!

Radin Dardashti (Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy, and Geneva): TBA

Juliusz Doboszewski (Jagiellonian University, and Geneva): TBA

More information on the Speakers page above.

We are very happy to announce that Djordje Minic (Virginia Tech) has joined the faculty of the summer institute – fewer than two months to go!

• Wednesday April 27th 2016 at UIC – Karen Crowther: The Correspondence Principle in Quantum Gravity

Abstract: “The difficulties in discovering a theory of quantum gravity are due not only to its apparently extreme experimental inaccessibility, but the fact that there are no commonly accepted, formally established constraints that define its basic structure and objectives. I critically examine the role of the correspondence principle in quantum gravity, to evaluate its prospects as such a constraint. I find that there is a form of correspondence that serves as an essential heuristic guide in developing the theory, but that another form of correspondence has acquired a status of undue weight. It seems that the stress on deriving general relativity in the low-energy regime is unwise at this stage of theory-development, and possibly altogether.”  In terms of technical difficulty, this talk rates 3/5  

We plan to live stream all of the talks this week on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_VhTJBl6Mpmfjj5q832rjg) — as we think we have solved the tech problems. In the menu of options, select ‘live streams’ at around 16:15 Swiss time tomorrow, and you should see it.

Two short talks, from both sides of the Atlantic:

(1) In Geneva, Giuliano Torrengo (Milan): The experience of the passage of time

(2) In Chicago, James Read (Oxford): Background Independence and Holography

For more information follow the links above.