CFP: Perspectives on the Foundations of Information Theory and Statistical Mechanics

We invite submissions of abstracts for contributed talks at the workshop “Perspectives on the Foundations of Information Theory and Statistical Mechanics”, to be held at the Institute of Philosophy of USI (Università della Svizzera italiana) in Lugano, Switzerland, May 7–9, 2026.

The workshop will explore the foundational and philosophical implications of information theory and statistical mechanics, with a particular focus on entropy, probability, correlations, and physical information. It aims to bring together philosophers, physicists, and computer scientists working on conceptual issues at the intersection of these fields, and to foster dialogue between technical approaches and broader interpretive and metaphysical questions. 

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Foundations and philosophy of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics 
• Quantum information theory
• Philosophy of information
• Information-theoretic foundations of quantum theory
• Quantum communication complexity

Submissions from graduate students and early-career researchers are especially encouraged. We aim to select two speakers to join the invited speakers.

Funding: We expect to cover accommodation (3 nights) and at least part of the travel costs for selected speakers. This workshop is generously supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) through a Scientific Exchange grant (grant number IZSEZ0_241781).

Abstracts: up to 1000 words, for 45-minute contributed talks (including discussion).

Deadline: 20 March 2026. We plan to notify the applicants within a few days after the deadline.

Please upload your anonymous abstracts (PDF) to https://forms.gle/VRxaSMTCnKD91QaV7, including your name, affiliation, career stage, and CV in the form. We look forward to your submissions!

Organisers: Joshua Babic, Niccolò Covoni, Lorenzo Lorenzetti