Making sense of data in the sciences: philosophical perspectives on the methodology, epistemology and practices of data-intensive science

Workshop
October 26-27
Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany)
Website: dataintensivescience.wordpress.com

Confirmed Speakers
Stefano Canali (Leibniz Universität Hannover)
Gregor Halfmann (University of Exeter)
Koray Karaca (Universiteit Twente)
Sabina Leonelli (University of Exeter)
Wolgang Pietsch (Technical University of Munich)
Federica Russo (Universiteit van Amsterdam)
Judith Simon (University of Hamburg)

Call for Papers
Discussions on the role of data in the sciences have acquired a central position in current philosophy of science. As part of a wider critical debate on the rhetoric of ‘big data’, philosophical discussions are now focused on the practices involved in the use of data in specific scientific disciplines, documenting challenges and benefits of working with data and studying the ethical dimensions of what is known as “data-intensive science”.
This workshop is aimed at promoting and further expanding this line of research, by focusing on a number of particularly important questions for the debate:

• What is the role played by ‘traditional’ aspects of scientific research (e.g. experiments, causal discovery, etc.) in data-intensive science?
• Which kind of practical and methodological issues are part of scientific practices involved in the use of (big) data?
• Which modes of integration are made necessary by the need of using different kinds of data regarding significantly different phenomena?
• Which role should we conceive for values in data-intensive science?
• Does data-intensive science entail new aspects of responsibility? If so, which notion of responsibility do we need and which aspects should we highlight?

Discussions on these issues will follow a practice-based approach to philosophy of science, thus aiming at studying actual contexts of practice in the sciences, as well as at improving and advancing scientific practice itself by highlighting its potentially problematic aspects.

How to submit an abstract
Philosophers of science and researchers from other areas with interests in these issues, including PhD candidates and early career researchers, are encouraged to submit an abstract of up to 500 words.
Abstract should be sent in anonymised version to permit blinded review. Please state your name, affiliation and title of the abstract only in the body of your email.
The final deadline for abstract submission is 2 June 2017.