18-19 March 2010
Hamburg, Germany
AKADEMIE DER WISSENSCHAFTEN IN HAMBURG Hamburg (Germany), 18-19 March 2010 http://www.awhamburg.de/veranstaltungen/aktuelle-veranstaltungen/v_details/ 61.html Workshop Models, Simulation and the Reduction of Complexity In modern science, complexity is a common feature in models of real world systems. The complexity may be due to various factors: from the sheer size of systems (neurology, climatology), to the high resolution of small scale phenomena in otherwise well understood systems, to the challenge of control ling a system or of designing an optimal shape in engineering. No matter what th e origin of such complexity may be, the goal is always to reduce the complexi ty in a way that makes the problem tractable. Such a reduction can be achieved by improving model assumptions based on first principles, by the elimina tion of variables, reducing the relevant subsystems etc. In any case such a reducti on of complexity has implications for the validity and the precision of the theoretical findings. The aim of this interdisciplinary conference is to discuss methodological a nd epistemological problems arising in this context. Eight renowned experts fr om climate research, cognitive science, cosmology, economics, mathematics, pro cess technology, psychology, and sociology will introduce some of their modellin g and simulation projects. Commentaries by philosophers of science will complement these presentations. There will be a focus on methodological parallels and discipline-specific differences between various approaches to modelling and simulating. We will ask: how do different disciplines manage to capture the complexity of a specific scientific phenomenon in a (relatively ) simple theoretical model? Are the strategies employed essentially the same in all disciplines? If not, can any disciplines successfully import methodolog ical strategies from other disciplines? What is the relation between a model and a simulation? And how does the availability of large-scale computers change t he nature of science? Conference organisation: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Ghde (Universitt Hamburg) Prof. Dr. Stephan Hartmann (Tilburg University) Prof. Dr. Jrn Henning Wolf (Christian-Albrechts-Universitt Kiel) The conference is held in cooperation with the Center for Logic and Philoso phy of Science of Tilburg University Schedule Thursday, March 18th 09.00 Welcome Prof. Dr. Heimo Reinitzer, President of the Akademie der Wissenschaften in Hamburg Session I Chair: Prof. Dr. Reiner Lauterbach (Universitt Hamburg) 09:15 Prof. Dr. Matthias Bartelmann (Ruprecht-Karls-Universitt Heidelb erg) Cosmology, the largest possible model? 10:00 Prof. Dr. Andreas Bartels (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universit t Bonn): Philosophical commentary 10:30 Coffee break 10:45 Prof. Dr. Martin Golubitsky (Ohio State University): Patterns in Physical and Biological Systems 11:30 Dr. Thomas Reydon (Leibniz-Universitt Hannover): Philosophical commentary 12:00 Discussion Lunch break Session II Chair: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Ghde (Universitt Hamburg) 14:30 Prof. Dr. Dirk Helbing (ETH Zrich): Understanding the Foundations of Society: Promises of a Multi-Disciplinary Dialogue 15:15 Prof. Dr. Stephan Hartmann (Tilburg University): Philosophical commentary 15:45 Coffee break 16:00 Prof.. Dr. Uskali Mki (Academy of Finland, University of Helsinki) : Economic modelling as theoretical experimentation and surrogate reasoning 16:45 Prof. Dr. Julian Reiss (Universitt Rotterdam): Philosophical commentary 17:15 Discussion Friday, March 19th Session III Chair: Prof. Dr. Brigitte Rder (Universitt Hamburg) 09:00 Prof. Dr. Peter Knig (Universitt Osnabrck): The brain formula 09:45 Prof. Dr. Markus Werning (Heinrich-Heine-Universitt Dsseldorf): Philosophical commentary 10:15 Coffee break 10:30 Prof. Dr. Reinhold Kliegl (Universitt Potsdam): Evaluating a Computational Model of Eye-Movement Control in Reading 11:15 Dr. Martin Hoffmann (Universitt Hamburg) Philosophical commentary 11:45 Discussion http://www.zeww.uni-hannover.de/pub.tr.html- Lunch break - Session IV Chair: Prof. Dr. Edwin Kreuzer (Technische Universitt Hamburg-Harburg) 14:15 Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Marquardt (RWTH Aachen): Identification of Kinetic Models by Incremental Refinement 15:00 Dr.. Robin F. Hendry (Durham University): Philosophical commentary 15:30 Coffee break 15:45 Dr. Valerio Lucarini (University of Reading): Modelling Complexity the Case of Climate Science 16:30 Prof. Dr. Georg Betz (Universitt Stuttgart): Philosophical commentary 17:00 Discussion 17:45 Closing remarks Prof. Dr. Ulrich Ghde (Universitt Hamburg) Registration for the conference is now open.