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::: center home >> events >> conferences >> other >> 2010-11 >>experimentation

Epistemology of Modeling & Simulation: Building Research Bridges Between the Philosophical and Modeling Communities

1-3 April 2011
University Club
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA USA

 

Friday, 1 April 2011

10:00 am

Registration Opens - 1st Floor Lobby

1:00-1:20 pm

Welcome and Conference Overview - Ballroom B
Donald S. Burke, University of Pittsburgh
Patrick Grim, SUNY at Stony Brook

Marc Lipsitch, Harvard School of Public Health
Nicholas Rescher, University of Pittsburgh

 1:30-3:00 pm

Parallel Paper Session I
1A. Epistemology and Empirical Models - Ballroom A
Moderator: Kevin Zollman, Carnegie Mellon University
"Understanding Data-Acquisition through Process Modeling: the Case of the ATLAS Experiment"
Koray Karaca, University of Wuppertahl
The Epistemology of Calibration: Modeling and Simulation in Contemporary Physical Measurement
Eran Tal, University of Toronto
“The Perils of Tweaking”
Brian Epstein, Tufts University
Patrick Forber, Tufts University
1B. Epistemology and Climate Models - Ballroom B
Moderator: Mirsad Hadzikadic, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
“The Strategy of Model Building in Climate Science”
Richard Pettigrew, University of Bristol
The Role of ‘Simple’ Empiricism in the Debates about Satellite Data and Climate Models
Elisabeth Lloyd, Indiana University
“What Does it Mean When Climate Models Agree? A Case for Assessing Independence among General Circulation Models”
Andrew Hamilton, Arizona State University

 3:00-3:10 pm

Refreshment Break - Ballroom B Foyer

 3:10-4:10 pm

Keynote Address - Ballroom B
“How Computer Models Test the Arrow of Complexity Thesis and Reveal Darwin’s Dirty Secret”
Mark Bedau, Reed College
Moderator: Kevin Zollman, Carnegie Mellon University

 4:15-4:45 pm

Parallel Paper Session II
IIA. Models in Perception, Cognition and Neuroscience - Conference Room A
Moderator: Anthony Beavers, University of Evansville
“The Role of Computational Models in Cognitive Neuroscience”
Catherine Stinson, University of Pittsburgh
An Integrated Theory of Human Hearing
Paolo Palmieri, University of Pittsburgh
“About the Empirical Warrants of Computer-Based Scientific Knowledge”
Marion Vorms, Institute for History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
Anouk Barberousse, Institute for History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
IIB. Challenges of Building and Evaluating Simulations - Ballroom B
Moderator: Stephen Albert, University of Pittsburgh
“Simulation Reproducibility: Implications for Theory, Methodology, and Model Development Environments”
Levant Yilmaz, Auburn University
“Simulation and the Problem of Simplification: Between Scylla and Charybdis?”
Gerhard Konig, National Institute of Health
From Models to Simulations: How is it Possible to Overcome the Loss of Understanding?
Julie Jebeile, Institute for History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
IIC. Models in Biology and Evolution - Gold Room
Moderator: Bruce Lee, University of Pittsburgh
The Resurrection of Ancient Genes: Heuristic Methods of Exploiting the Data Produced by Computer Generated Phylogenetic Reconstructions to Determine the Mechanistic Basis for Evolution of Extant Phenotypes
Ronald Laymon, Ohio State University
Synthetic Modeling and the Functional Meaning of Noise
Tarja Knuuttila, University of Helsinki
Andrea Loettgers, California Institute of Technology
“Game-Theoretic Equilibria and the Evolution of Learning”
Rory Smead, Northeastern University

 5:45-6:30 pm

Reception and Networking - Ballroom A
Cash Bar

 6:30-7:30 pm

Keynote Address
“How Modeling Can Go Wrong”
Nicholas Rescher, University of Pittsburgh
Moderator: James G. Lennox, University Of Pittsburgh

     

Saturday, 2 April 2011

 7:00 am

Registration Opens - 1st Floor Lobby

 8:00-9:00 am

Breakfast & Networking - Ballroom A

 9:00-12:00 pm

“Models & Modeling Objectives: A Joint Exploration of 3 Cases”
At the core of the conference is a set of interactive sessions that will demand the varied expertise and active involvement of all participants.

*We will begin with an introduction to three familiar models.
*We will then self-select into groups, each of which will concentrating on one of the models in particular. The focus will be on questions of model structure, objective, and evaluation.
*We will re-convene for session reports and discussion.

Session Coordinators:
John H. Miller, Carnegie Mellon University
Sandra Mitchell, University of Pittsburgh
Session Facilitators:
Joshua M. Epstein, Johns Hopkins University
Susan Sterrett, Carnegie Mellon University
Wendy Parker, Ohio University
Forrest Stonedahl, Northwestern University
Leonard Smith, London School of Economics and Political Science

 

 9:00-9:45 am

 

Introduction - Ballroom B
Panel Presentation of Three Models:
      The Long House Valley Anasazi Model
      Climate Change - The IPCC Model
      Smallpox Bioterrorism: Epstein & Burke, et.al

 9:45-11:15 am

Breakout Sessions
1. The Anasazi Model
Group A (Gold Room)
Sandra Mitchell, University of Pittsburgh
Group B (Conference Room C)
Forrest Stonedahl, Northwestern University
2. IPCC Climate Change
Group C (Conference Room A)
Leonard Smith, London School of Economics and Political Science
Group D (The Grille) Wendy Parker, Ohio University
3. Smallpox
Group E (Conference Room B)
Michael Weisberg, University of Pennsylvania
Group F (Ballroom A)
Joshua M. Epstein, Johns Hopkins University

11:15-12:45 am

Breakout Group Session Reports and Discussion - Ballroom B

11:45-1:15 pm

Lunch and Flash Poster Presentations - Ballroom B
(Flash session will begin at 12:20 p.m.)

 1:30-2:15 pm

Keynote Address - Ballroom B
Modeling Neurons, Minds, and Groups: The Epistemology of Multilevel Simulations”
Paul Thagard, University of Waterloo
Moderator: Susan Sterrett, Carnegie Mellon University

 2:15-2:30 pm

Refreshment Break - Ballroom B Foyer

 2:30-5:30 pm

Parallel Paper Session III
IIIA. Theory, Thought, and Models - Ballroom A
Moderator: Ryan Muldoon, University of Western Ontario
“Differentiating between Thought Experiments, Simulations, and Experiments”
Adam Rosenfeld, Stony Brook University
“Modeling and Novel Hypotheses”
Charles Rathkopf, University of Virginia
William Lev, University of Virginia
“Simulation and Knowledge Acquisition”
Margaret Morrison, University of Toronto
Minds, Models, and Mechanisms
Erich Hochstein, University of Waterloo
“How Is Theory Employed in Modeling? There are Many Ways”
Susan Sterrett, Carnegie Mellon University
“Getting Serious About Similarity”
Michael Weisberg, University of Pennsylvania
IIIB. Models in Medicine - Ballroom B
Moderator: Margaret Potter, University of Pittsburgh
“Waddington Redux: Two Approaches to Modeling Stem Cells”
Melinda Fagan, Rice University
Modeling Chagas Disease Risk in Texas: Idealization and Multiple Models for Use
David Frank, University of Texas, Austin
“The Role of Scale and Heterogeneity on Disease Spread among Vulnerable Populations during an Epidemic”
Ayaz Hyder, McGill University
Marine Jeanmougin, University of Evry
Brian Leung, McGill University
“Why Need a Model? The Debate over the Origin of Life Theories and a Lesson from Simpson’s Paradox”
Prasanta Bandyopadhay, Montana State University
Trevor Beard, Montana State University
John Peters, Montana State University
Modeling and Evaluating Statistical Monitoring Decisions of Clinical Trials
Roger Stanev, University of British Columbia
Landmines for MIDAS: A Critique of the Philosophical Origins of Health Promotion Theory and of the Legacy of the Vienna Circle
Richard Zimmerman, University of Pittsburgh

 5:30-6:30 pm

Poster Presentations and Reception - 1st Floor Lobby
Cash Bar

 6:30-7:30 pm

Keynote Address
“Using Agent-Based Modeling to Forecast and Analyze Rare Political Events: Illustrations from Pakistan and Thailand”
Ian Lustick, University of Pennsylvania
Moderator: Patrick Grim, SUNY at Stony Brook

     

Sunday, 3 April 2011

 8:00 am

Registration Opens - 1st Floor Lobby

 8:00-9:00 am

Breakfast and Networking - Ballroom A

 9:00-10:00 am

Keynote Address - Ballroom A
“Use of Simulations and Models for Decision Making: Emerging Diseases”
Marc Lipsitch, Harvard School of Public Health
Wendy Parker, Ohio University
Moderator: John Grefenstette, University of Pittsburgh

10:00-1:00 pm

Parallel Paper Session IV
IVA. Models in the Social, Political, and Economic Spheres - Ballroom A
Moderator: Roni Rosenfeld, Carnegie Mellon University
"Insight or Numerical Engineering? The Role of Simulation Modeling in Quantitative Decision Support"
Leonard Smith, London School of Economics and Political Science
"Methodological Boundary Unfolding for an Agent Based Modeling"
Hiroshi Deguchi, Tokyo Institute of Technology
"Modeling and Simulation in Political Philosophy: On the Emergence of Norms"
Chiara Lisciandra, Tilburg Center for Logic & Philosophy of Science
Ryan Muldoon, University of Western Ontario
Stephan Hartmann, Tilburg Center for Logic & Philosophy of Science
"Financial Modeling in the Banking Industry: Some Reflections from the Trenches"
Lisa Warenski, Union College
"Phenomenal Adequacy and Mechanistic Explanation: Clarifying the Concept of Validation of Agent-Based Models"
Stefan Mendritzki, Eindhoven University of Technology
IVB. Validation, Theory, and Modeling - Ballroom B
Moderator: Paul Humphreys, University of Virginia
"Idealization and Inference: How False Models Explain"
Ashley Kennedy, University of Virginia
"Reservoir Models as Representations and Tools"
Peter Almklov, NTNU Social Research Ltd.
Thomas Østerlie, Norwegian University of Science & Technology
Torgeir Haavik, NTNU Social Research Ltd.
"Everett's Quantum Theory of Measurement: Fundamental Theory as Phenomenological Model"
Brett Bevers, University of California, Irvine
"Explanatory Models vs. Predictive Models: Some Lessons from Geomorphology"
Alisa Bokulich, Boston University
"The Philosophy and Practice of Statistical Model Validation"
Aris Spanos, Virginia Tech University
Deborah Mayo, Virginia Tech University
"Epistemological Aspects of Developing, Simulating, and Testing System Dynamic Models"
Ralph Levine, Michigan State University
David Lounsbury, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

 1:00-1:30 pm

Closing Remarks and Reflection - Ballroom B
Speakers:
Joshua M. Epstein, Johns Hopkins University
Patrick Grim, SUNY at Stony Brook
James G. Lennox, University of Pittsburgh
Donald S. Burke, University of Pittsburgh

 
 
Revised 3/31/11 - Copyright 2011