October 26 - 28, 2011
Perimeter Institute
Scientific Area: Condensed Matter

In a wide range of areas in physics, including condensed matter physics, cosmology, high energy physics, string theory and quantum gravity, a lot of emphasis is put on the notion of effective field theories. This workshop focuses on what is common among these uses of effective field theory and in particular on the meaning of claims made using them that various features of the physical world are "emergent." What is sometimes meant by "emergence" is that there are macroscopic phenomena whose description requires concepts and principles that are not part of the description of the fundamental degrees of freedom. This may sound simple, but lurking behind it are a minefield of conceptual and technical issues that have led to confusion among both physicists and philosophers. The aim of this workshop is to bring together physicists from the several areas where effective field theories are employed with a small number of philosophers who have been investigating methodological issues related to making sense of the concept of emergence.

Click here to view conference talks on PIRSA .

Scientific Organizers:
Bob Batterman, University of Pittsburgh
Leo Kadanoff, The James Franck Institute, University of Chicago
Chris Smeenk, University of Western Ontario
Lee Smolin, Perimeter Institute