Summer institute on the Foundations of Statistical Mechanics

The Institute is aimed at fostering an understanding of conceptual issues in the foundations of statistical mechanics.  The goal for students is to come away from the course prepared to engage the philosophical literature on the foundations of statistical mechanics at a professional level.

As there isn’t a consensus as to what the correct approach is to understanding statistical mechanics, we will be bringing together leading contributors to the philosophical debates to date. Lecture topics will include both introductions to basic issues, and specialized topics.  Faculty for this year are: David Z. Albert (Columbia University), Wayne Myrvold (The University of Western Ontario), John Norton (University of Pittsburgh), Jos Uffink (University of Minnesota), and David Wallace (University of Oxford).

Tuition, including meals and accommodations, but excluding travel, is $800.

To apply for the Summer Institute, students should send the following materials to Carol Suter ([email protected]):

• A cover letter describing current research interests, explaining the relevance of the Summer Institute to these interests.
• A current CV.
• A letter of reference from the student’s supervisor, or a faculty member familiar with their research related to the Summer Institute.

Tuition relief will be available to selected students; if you wish to be considered for this, please indicate in cover letter.

The deadline for applications is April 15, 2013.

For further inquires, contact Wayne Myrvold ([email protected]).

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