Call for abstracts: The Second Law of Thermodynamics, September 1-2, 2017 at LMU Munich

The Second Law of Thermodynamics
MCMP, LMU Munich. September 1-2, 2017
Url: http://www.lmu.de/secondlaw2017


    



The attempt to understand the Second Law of thermodynamics occupies
    a central role in the foundations of physics: not only is it of
    great importance in its own right, but it also ramifies into a host
    of other problems of fundamental physical and philosophical import,
    from the arrow of time and the nature of spacetime to issues of
    probability, causality, predictability, and determinism, and even to
    the nature of memory and agency. This will be the first major
    conference since the 1950s to address all foundational issues
    associated with the Second Law, and to try to examine how they all
    bear on each other. Invited physicists and philosophers will be
    chosen to represent issues pertaining to the Second Law from many
    different fields in physics and philosophy (classical
    thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, quantum field theory,
    gravity), in an attempt to foster a dialogue among those addressing
    problems associated with the Second Law in the different fields.
    Such a gathering will spur new, innovative approaches to the
    problem, as well as connecting and invigorating work on existing
    approaches. It will also provide young researchers with a
    comprehensive introduction to the state of the art of this central
    field of research, and established researchers with a comprehensive
    overview. 


    





Call for abstracts


    





We invite the submission of paper abstracts for the conference.



Abstracts should include a title, a brief abstract (up to 200
    words), and a full abstract (up to 1000 words), blinded for peer
    review. They should be PDF files, submitted to the conference's



      EasyChair account. We will select 4 submissions for
    presentation at the conference. 







We plan to publish the proceedings of the conference as a special
    issue of a leading journal (e.g., Foundations of Physics).



Depending on the funding situation, it is likely that the conference
    organizers will be able to partly subsidize the traveling and
    accommodation costs for those whose submitted abstracts are
    accepted, or even to cover all costs. This will be determined by the
    end of the summer.







We are committed to fostering diversity and equality in our
    programs. Submissions from underrepresented groups are particularly
    welcome. The conference will be organized and run under the
      MCMP's code of conduct. 











Registration


    





Please send registration requests by 15 Aug 2017 to the co-organizer
    Neil Dewar.
    The email should have the subject: "register second law" and contain
    your name and affiliation as you would like it to appear on your
    conference name-tag. Also please indicate whether you plan to attend
    the conference dinner (01 Sep, 2017). The fees for the conference
    and dinner are as follows.







Senior researchers with permanent positions (associate and full
    professors, etc.): conference fee EUR 40 



Junior researchers (assistant professors, post-docs, etc.):
    conference
    fee EUR 25 



Students (masters, doctoral, etc.): no conference fee 







Cost for conference dinner (for everyone): EUR 30







Dates and Deadines


    





Deadlines for Submission: May 1 2017



Date of Notification: May 31 2017



Registration Deadline: August 15 2017







Organizers