Speakers
Daniele Oriti
LMU Munich
Daniele is a theoretical physicist, working on quantum gravity (particularly on tensorial group field theories (group field theories, random tensor models), loop quantum gravity, spin foam models, lattice quantum gravity, non-commutative geometry), gravitational physics, fundamental cosmology; wider research activities in the philosophy of science and foundations of physical theories, in particular foundations of quantum mechanics and philosophy of spacetime theories.
Irene Valenzuela
CERN
Irene is currently a staff member of the Theory Department at CERN. She also has a position (on leave) at IFT UAM/CSIC in Madrid (Spain). Before, she worked at Harvard University, Cornell University, Utrecht University and the Max Planck Institute for Physics in Munich. She did her PhD at the IFT in Madrid with Prof. Luis Ibanez. Her research interests include string theory, theoretical cosmology and particle physics. She works on the Swampland program, to determine the constraints that quantum gravity imposes at low energies.
Jácome Armas
UvA
Jacome's research currently focuses on different areas of high-energy, astrophysics, and hard and soft matter. The connecting thread is the application of string theory methods and techniques to solve problems in other areas of physics. In particular, I like thinking about black holes in higher dimensions, metastable states in string theory, and developing rigorous frameworks for hydrodynamics such as magnetohydrodynamics and viscoelastic fluid dynamics with applications to biomembranes.
Karen Crowther
University of Oslo
Karen is an Associate Professor at the University of Oslo. She specialises in the philosophy of science and the philosophy of physics. She is interested in the nature of fundamental physical theories, the idea of emergent physics and the relationship between these different `levels’ of description. Much of her research has focused on effective field theory, spacetime and quantum gravity. Her current work explores the roles of principles and other non-empirical guides to scientific theory construction and evaluation. In particular, she is looking at the different non-empirical guides involved in the search for quantum gravity.
Richard Dawid
University of Stockholm
Richard is a professor of philosophy of science at Stockholm University. His work focuses on philosophical aspects of contemporary theories in high-energy physics and cosmology. His concept of non-empirical theory confirmation, developed in the book String theory and the scientific method (CUP 2013) and in a number of articles, introduces a broader perspective on theory confirmation in fundamental physics and beyond. Currently, he is leading a VR-funded research project on the philosophy of cosmology.