A couple of items about forthcoming and past talks:

First, the YouTube livestream of Dave Baker’s talk worked well, and was followed by a number of people — we hope to repeat it for all talks (though we don’t have the capacity to troubleshoot I’m afraid — except you can let me know if you want me to point the camera at the speaker!). A decent video of the talk (including Dave himself) is now available on our YouTube channel.

Second, we have three speakers in the next four weeks: Michael Esfeld on October 21, Daniele Oriti on October 28, and Kerry McKenzie on November 11. Please find details here (or in the project tab above). Hope you can make it, in person or online!

We will attempt an experimental livestream of tomorrow’s talk at UIC (Dave Baker, 9.15am CST). Just go to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_VhTJBl6Mpmfjj5q832rjg and then find the livestream under the tiny “All Activities” button above the list of videos (ignore the test stream).

This experiment comes with no warranties, and definitely no technical support (if you have something to say to help us, please let us know after the talk!). Apologies for any frustration you encounter.

If it works, then if you email questions for the speaker to our gmail (beyondspacetimeseminar), I will try to ask them of the speaker.

Hope you can make it. Look under the project tab above for more information on the talk itself.

Thursday October 8th 2015 at UIC — David Baker (Michigan): Does String Theory Posit Extended Simples?

Abstract: “It is sometimes claimed that string theory posits a fundamental ontology including extended mereological simples, either in the form of minimum-sized regions of space or of the strings themselves.  But there is very little in the actual theory to support this claim, and much that suggests it is false.  Extant string theories treat space as a continuum, and strings do not behave like simples.”

(And remember, you can participate in the talk by live video conference in the philosophy department in Geneva — and perhaps by YouTube stream, if we organize it in time. At any rate, the talk should be available to watch a few days after the event.)

Wednesday October 7th 2015 at Geneva – Vincent Lam (Lausanne) (and Christian Wüthrich, Geneva): Functional emergence of spacetime in quantum gravity

Abstract: “Relativistic spacetime, according to many quantum theories of gravity, does not exist, fundamentally. This threatens the very possibility of the empirical confirmation of these theories. Their empirical coherence can be restored by securing the emergence of spacetime from the fundamental non-spatio- temporal structures. Establishing this emergence requires not just mathematical limits and approximations, but also a successful argument that these technical procedures result in appropriately local `beables’. We show in the context of two programs in quantum gravity—loop quantum gravity and causal set theory—that a recovery of the merely functionally relevant features of spacetime suffices to this end.”

Note that Dave Baker (Michigan) will be speaking at UIC the next day. Details follow.

The first speakers to the project are now arranged. You are welcome to attend in person (9am in room 1430 of University Hall), and we also hope to livestream talks on Our YouTube channel (which should allow viewers to submit questions); video will also be made available soon after the event. Our YouTube channel is at: http://www.youtube.com/c/BeyondspacetimeNet

Watch for announcements of talks at Geneva — and find information about all talks on the project page linked above.

Thursday October 8th 2015 at UIC — David Baker (Michigan)
Wednesday November 11th 2015 at UIC — Kerry McKenzie (UC San Diego)

There is now a new email distribution list to share information about events and opportunities concerning the philosophy of quantum gravity, broadly construed. Anyone can become a subscriber, and any subscriber can send a message to the list. Posts that are off topic will be deleted, however, and their senders blocked. Drive responsibly!

To subscribe, go to https://listes.unige.ch/sympa/info/beyondspacetime.

Call for Applications: JUNIOR FELLOWSHIP in PHILOSOPHY OF QUANTUM GRAVITY

University of Geneva

The philosophy of physics group at the Department of Philosophy in Geneva solicits applications for a one-year junior visiting fellowship for advanced PhD students, starting Fall 2015 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is funded by the John Templeton Foundation grant ‘Space and Time after Quantum Gravity’.

Candidates must be ABD in a PhD program at an accredited university, working on a dissertation in the philosophy of quantum gravity, broadly construed. The fellowship will provide support for the successful candidate to spend a year away from their home institution to work with the project’s Geneva group led by Professor Christian Wüthrich, and to benefit from interactions with project members and from participation in the project’s activities. The successful candidate will participate in a tutoring program directed by Professor Wüthrich. They will be expected to participate in weekly group meetings during term, help with the administration and organization of the group’s activities, and contribute to the group’s research and outreach efforts. Fluency in English is required. More information on the project and the research group is available at https://beyondspacetime.net/.

The fellowship is fixed-term for one year, although we will consider applications for a six-month period. The salary will depend on the candidate’s prior experience, but is expected to be around CHF 51,000. Research funds will be available for travel to relevant conferences and to visit the project’s other group at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The successful candidate will remain a student at their home institution, and will not be admitted into any degree program at Geneva. The fellowship will not cover any costs (such as tuition and fees) at the home institution.

Applications must contain a cover letter detailing the pertinent experience and motivation for the position, a CV, a 1-2 page description of the dissertation project, one writing sample, and two letters of reference (sent under separate cover). They should be sent to Professor Christian Wüthrich at christian.wuthrich@unige.ch.

Review of the files will begin on September 14, 2015 and continue until the position is filled. Candidates files will be reviewed by qualified members of the Scientific Advisory Committee, and the best qualified candidate will be selected by Professors Huggett and Wüthrich.

Applications from women and underrepresented minorities are encouraged.

For more information, please contact Professor Christian Wüthrich at christian.wuthrich@unige.ch.

We invite interested scholars for short visits to the Spacetime After Quantum Gravity research group, located in the philosophy departments at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Geneva. To facilitate visits we can offer financial assistance for travel and lodging, office facilities, and of course excellent intellectual company. Visits can be from a few days to a few weeks (or possibly longer).

We hope to have range of visitors: faculty and graduate students; general philosophers, philosophers of physics, and physicists; those sharing their expertise, and those learning about the philosophy of quantum gravity and the work of our group and speakers. Visitors will help us inform the philosophical and physics communities about philosophical issues in quantum gravity; and they will help us learn more about these philosophical dimensions though our interactions. While visitors will be credentialed philosophers or physicists, in some cases a credible interest in professional engagement with the group will be more important than prior work in quantum gravity.

In the first instance, potential visitors are requested to send a brief (one page) letter of interest, explaining their current academic status, research focus, and interest in our project. Please also explain any special activities you would like to undertake with the group, date(s) you would like to visit, and estimated cost of a flight. We will request further information as needed, and discuss times and budgets (up to $600, with the possibility of more for longer visits, depending on demand) with successful applicants.

The period of the project is September 1st 2015-August 31st 2018. There is no deadline for requests; we have an annual budget, and will support visitors each year until that year’s budget is exhausted. We especially encourage applications from women and underrepresented minorities.

Send letters of interest to beyondspacetimeseminar@gmail.com. And please share the invitation.

Nick Huggett, UIC

Christian Wüthrich, Geneva

Website: beyondspacetime.net