Not really in my area, but I guess I should advertise stuff happening in Finland, and Helsinki in particular. So, make a note of this if you work in philosophy of science, or more specifically on methodological issues concerning models and simulations. I won’t be in the country anyway…

Call for papers

MODELS AND SIMULATIONS 5

Helsinki, 14-16 June 2012

The Finnish Centre of Excellence in the Philosophy of the Social
Sciences is delighted to host the 5th Models and Simulations (MS5)
conference in Helsinki.

Conference website: http://www.helsinki.fi/ms5

The previous MS meetings have taken place in Paris, Tilburg,
Charlottesville, and Toronto. As before, the overall theme of the
conference will be the philosophical and methodological issues of
simulations and models, broadly construed.

Papers on any aspect of this theme are welcome from both philosophers
and practicing scientists. One focus of the 5th meeting will be on
models and simulations within and across the social sciences. Of
course, submissions of papers related to the natural sciences in
particular and modeling and simulating in general are also welcome.
Possible topics include the following: Models, simulations, and
scientific representation. Models, simulations, and scientific
explanation. Fictions vs. idealizations. The role of simplicity,
generality, robustness, unifying power, and other non-empirical
epistemic virtues in modeling. Styles and conventions of modeling in
different disciplines. Transfer of model templates and modelling
methods across disciplinary boundaries. What kinds of inherent biases
do model-based research heuristics involve? What standards should be
used in assessing model-based expertise in policy applications? How to
combine different sources of evidence within a model? How to render
model-based evidence commensurable with other evidence?

Keynote speakers

• Rosaria Conte (ISTC-CNR, Rome)
• Mary Morgan (LSE)
• Tim Benton (Leeds)

SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS

Abstracts of 100 words and extended abstracts of 800-1000 words

The deadline for submission is 5 February 2012

Abstract submission is electronic. To submit, please prepare a PDF
file of your extended abstract. Make sure that the extended abstract
is prepared for blind review. Then follow this link:

https://www.easychair.org/account/signin.cgi?conf=ms5

If you do not already have an EasyChair account, you first need to
create one when you enter the site. When logged in, click on the new
submission link. Include your 100 words abstract and upload the PDF
file of your extended abstract. You will be able to revise your
submission any number of times before the deadline.

For further information and inquiries, please contact
jaakko.kuorikoski@helsinki.fi