CFP: First Feminist Philosophy of Physics Workshop

We invite submissions from scholars at all career stages to the first Feminist Philosophy of Physics Workshop, to be held on June 20-21, 2024 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and hybrid on Zoom. We welcome submissions to present talks (20 min or 3 min), to organize panel or workshop discussions, as well as to participate as discussants. We especially welcome submissions from scholars from marginalized groups (including but not limited to trans and queer scholars, scholars of color, disabled scholars), and from scholars at early career stages. We welcome presentations on works in progress, and we welcome submissions from non-philosophers.

Possible topics include but are not limited to: 

• Perspectives from feminist theory/critical race theory/queer theory in the foundations of physics; 

• The influence of sociopolitical values in the development of history of physics, foundations of physics, social structures of physics, and/or philosophy of physics (HFSP of physics);

• Ideas, theories, and perspectives developed by gender and racial minority scholars in the HFSP of physics; 

• Empirical research into the gender and racial gaps in physics and HFSP of physics publications, and exploring ways to close such gaps;

• Empirical research into the retention of gender and racial minorities in the HFP of physics, and suggesting ways to make the field more accessible;

• Exploring pedagogical interventions for possible gender and racial gaps in physics, philosophy of physics, and formal philosophy.

We would be especially interested in a panel on, or workshop discussion of, the work of Evelyn Fox Keller (1936-2023). We would also be interested in a panel on, or workshop discussion of, strategies to make HFSP of physics more welcoming to marginalized scholars in the field.

We will aim to provide accommodation for all presenters, workshop organizers and participants, and discussants. We also have funds available for childcare, flights, visa cost, and other transportation expenses for those with limited institutional support. If you need a sponsorship letter for a US visa to attend the workshop, please contact local organizers (Francisco Calderón ([email protected]) and Laura Ruetsche ([email protected])). Note that we can provide letters before notice of acceptance into the workshop. We also ask that you contact local organizers as soon as possible concerning accessibility needs.

Program Co-Chairs: Chris Mitsch (University of Pittsburgh) and Jingyi Wu (London School of Economics)

Local Organizers:  Francisco Calderón (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) and Laura Ruetsche (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)

Workshop Organizing Community: India Bhalla-Ladd (UC Irvine), Clara Bradley (UC Irvine), Francisco Calderón (Michigan), Elliott Chen (Xavier), Ana-Maria Creţu (Bristol), Patricia Fofie (UC Irvine), Alexander Franklin (KCL), David Freeborn (NU London), Bixin Guo (Pittsburgh), Bri High (Washington), Doreen Fraser (Waterloo), Kerry McKenzie (UCSD), Helen Meskhidze (Harvard), Chris Mitsch (Pittsburgh), Alyssa Ney (UC Davis), Ray Pedersen (Minnesota), Laura Ruetsche (Michigan), Katie Robertson (Stirling), Mike Schneider (Missouri), Shelly Yiran Shi (UCSD), Jer Steeger (Washington/Bristol), Francesca Vidotto (Western), Jim Weatherall (UC Irvine), Jingyi Wu (LSE)

To apply, please fill out the form linked below:

• If you are interested in giving a 20 minute presentation: please submit an abstract of 300-500 words, prepared for anonymous review;

• If you are interested in giving a 3 minute flash talk: please submit a 3-5 sentence description of the idea you expect to present, prepared for anonymous review;

• If you are interested in organizing a workshop or a panel, please submit an abstract of 300-500 words, suitable for a 30 minute session;

• If you are interested in participating as a discussant, please submit a 3-5 sentence explanation of why you would be interested in participating.

The workshop is generously funded by the University of Michigan Department of Philosophy and the Blaumann Foundation.

Submission form: https://forms.gle/H5wSWTjPqVBLfWRLA

Submission deadline: January 19, 2024

We will notify applicants by March 1, 2024