Fibonacci's Garden

Fibonacci's Garden

The Epistemology and Ethics of Formal Methods in the sciences (with a focus on the life sciences and inner mathematical considerations)

When:
November 25 - 26 (starting 9 (or 10) am on Monday, ending 3 pm on Tuesday)

Where:
Institut für Medizingeschichte und Wissenschaftsforschung

Universität zu Lübeck
Königstrasse 42
23552 Lübeck
Germany

Who:
Open to all interested, please register using this form https://forms.gle/352C6Y6XM5663mHi8 

If you do not want to use a google form, send in email to    d (dot) sarikaya ( at ) uni ( minus ) luebeck (dot) de . Please include the word 'Fibonacci' in the subject line.

Organized by:
Christian Herzog & Deniz Sarikaya

Fibonacci's Garden generated by AI using OpenAI's DALL·E, October 2024. 

Topic:

In 1960, physicist and Nobel Laureate Eugene Wigner wrote an article entitled “The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences.” Wigner was surprised that the mathematical structure of a physical theory not only accurately describes the physical world but also leads to new predictions and further advances. This phenomenon puzzled him, leading to the term "unreasonable effectiveness": Why is mathematics so effective in describing the natural world? More recently, a Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for work that many might consider to belong to computer science. The first image of a black hole, for example, relied heavily on sophisticated code. Formal tools are now integral to many complex measurements, cutting across various scientific practices.

We are organizing a two-day exploratory workshop. The main theme will broadly explore the applicability of mathematics both within and outside its traditional boundaries. Day 1 will focus on the use of mathematical tools in the sciences, particularly in the life sciences. The life sciences are increasingly becoming more mathematical, and there are ongoing fruitful discussions—both scientific and philosophical—on how mathematics should be coordinated with biological and medical phenomena. Day 2 will shift to internal mathematical considerations, such as how formal tools, like theorem-proving software, can be applied to these interdisciplinary efforts. Moreover, "applicability" has become a major theme in mathematical research, as some analytical resources prove to be more suitable for different contexts within pure mathematics. This is a topic that has recently garnered the attention of philosophers of mathematics, especially those interested in the "practice turn" in philosophy.

Finally, a common thread throughout both days of the workshop is the ethical dimension. The way we mathematize and quantify the real world, and how automation influences various fields, has wide-reaching implications for society and numerous professional practices.

Speakers:


More TBA  

Supported by:

Die Akademie der Wissenschaften in Hamburg, Ethical Innovation Hub of the Universität zu Lübeck, and Institut für Medizingeschichte und Wissenschaftsforschung der Universität zu Lübeck. The Event is also endorsed by the CIPSH Chair: Diversity of Mathematical Research Cultures and Practices.