My research focuses mainly on the epistemology and methodology of contemporary science. I am interested in how computer simulation models are used in scientific practice, how these models should be evaluated, and how uncertainty associated with their results should be represented and communicated. I have explored these issues both in general and in the context of climate modeling. More broadly, I am interested in how evidence for scientific claims is obtained and evaluated. Recently, I have also been thinking about how non-epistemic values play a role in the assessment of scientific research and its products. I am currently collaborating with climate scientists, ecologists, and geologists on a range of projects.
A few representative publications in my main research areas can be found below.
Computer Simulation
Parker, W.S. 2020. Evidence and knowledge from computer simulation. Erkenntnis. doi: 10.1007/s10670-020-00260-1.
Parker, W.S. 2009. Does matter really matter? Computer simulations, experiments, and materiality. Synthese 169(3): 483-496.
Parker, W.S. 2008. Franklin, Holmes and the epistemology of computer simulation. International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 22(2): 165-183.
Model Evaluation
Parker, W.S. 2024. Model Evaluation. Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Scientific Modeling, 208-218.
Parker, W.S. 2020. Model Evaluation: An Adequacy-for-Purpose View. Philosophy of Science 87 (3):457-477.
Parker, W.S. 2011. Scientific models and adequacy-for-purpose. Modern Schoolman 87(3-4), 285-293.
Parker, W.S. 2009. Confirmation and adequacy-for-purpose in climate modeling. Aristotelian Society Supplementary Volume 83: 233-249.
Data and Measurement
Bokulich, A. and W.S. Parker. 2021. Data Models, Representation and Adequacy-for-Purpose. European Journal for Philosophy of Science.
Parker, W.S. 2021. Virtually a Measurement. Nature Physics 17:146.
Parker, W.S. 2017. Computer simulation, measurement and data assimilation. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 68(1): 273-304.
Parker, W.S. 2016. Reanalyses and Observations -- What's the Difference? Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 97: 1565–1572, doi: 10.1175/BAMS-D-14-00226.1
Values in Science
Parker, W.S. 2024. Values in Science: The Epistemic Projection Approach. Philosophy of Science 91: 18-36.
Parker, W.S. and G. Lusk 2019. Incorporating user values into climate services. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 100(9): 1643-1650.
Parker, W.S. and E. Winsberg 2018. Values and evidence: How models make a difference. European Journal for Philosophy of Science 8(1): 125-142.
Climate Modeling
Parker, W.S. 2024. Climate Science. Cambridge Elements in Philosophy of Science. CUP.
Parker, W.S. 2018. The significance of robust climate predictions. For E. Lloyd and E. Winsberg (Eds.) Conceptual and Philosophical Issues in Climate Modeling. [Revised version of (2011) "When climate models agree".]
Katzav, J. and W.S. Parker 2015. The future of climate modeling. Climatic Change 132(4): 475-487.
Parker, W.S. 2013. Ensemble modeling, uncertainty and robust predictions. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change 4(3): 213-223.