CFP: 32nd Novembertagung on the History and Philosophy of Mathematics

“Mathematics in Times of Crisis” 

November 18th – 20th 2021 

The Novembertagung on the History and Philosophy of Mathematics is an annual international conference aimed at graduate students in the history and philosophy of mathematics and  neighboring fields. It provides an opportunity for young researchers to present and discuss their  research in a safe, informal environment, and serves as a place for them to share experience and  advice, as well as to establish new contacts. Participants are welcome from around the world. 

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference will be held online.  Abstracts, of around 250 words, should be submitted as a PDF file via email to  [email protected]. In your email, please also include your full name and  affiliation as they should appear on the conference program. The (extended) deadline for submissions is July 21st 2021. For additional information, please visit our webpage:  

https://novembertagung.wordpress.com/ 

On the Theme: Crisis, instability and times of uncertainty undoubtedly influenced the  development of the sciences, and mathematics is no exception. Throughout history,  mathematicians found themselves facing wide-ranging challenges, both internal and external to  mathematics, to which they had to respond in new and creative ways. Inspired by contemporary  global events, this conference is interested in the ways that times of crisis shaped the  development of mathematics. The time of uncertainty might be frustrating and confounding for  the mathematicians, but from a historical perspective it can be viewed as an engine of  mathematical creativity.  

This year, the Novembertagung invites the participants to discuss one or more of the following  issues: 

∙ New ideas, proofs or mathematical discoveries that undermined long-held conceptions,  and the ways in which mathematicians or mathematical communities addressed this challenge

∙ Paradoxes, controversial notions in mathematics or ideas that puzzled mathematicians in  various periods of history, and the methods propounded to untangle them 

∙ Historical conflicts between two (or more) mathematicians or mathematical approaches. 

∙ How personal struggles of mathematicians between contradicting commitments (whether  scientific, philosophical or any other cultural commitments) were manifested in their  mathematical work, and the innovative ways they devised to reconcile these conflicts

∙ Global or national crisis that brought about novel mathematical methods or models 

Please note that the theme serves as a guide, not a criterion for exclusion, and as such it is not  necessary for a submission to engage with the theme to be accepted. However, establishing links  with the theme will allow for more fruitful discussions, and as such is recommended.  

Keynote lectures will be given by Amir Asghari (Liverpool John Moores University), Juliet Floyd (Boston  University), and Tilman Sauer (Universität Mainz). 

Bursaries: For those who are unable to obtain funding for costs related to participation in the  conference (such as childcare, a stable internet connection, etc.), every effort will be made by the  organizing committee to cover such costs, at least in part, if not fully. Please indicate in your  application email whether you intend to apply for such a grant. There is no conference  registration fee. 

Organizing Committee: Brigitte Stenhouse (Open University, UK), Richard Lawrence  (Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen), Tuya Sa (Loughborough University), Tobias Schütz  (Universität Mainz), Rosie Lev-Halutz (Tel-Aviv University)