72nd ICREA Colloquium - Objective Chance and Quantum Randomness
By: Antonio Acín (ICFO) and Carl Hoefer (UB)
When: 27th September 2016, 18:00h
Where: ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 6th floor
Abstracts:
Antonio Acín
What can and cannot be said about randomness using quantum physics
It is usually said that quantum physics is, contrary to classical physics, intrinsically random. The intrinsic randomness of quantum physics follows from the fact that it is possible to observe correlations among quantum particles for which there exists no classical and deterministic model. The observation of these correlations, however, requires some assumptions about the setup. In particular, it requires some initial randomness, which makes the whole argument apparently circular.
We discuss how it is possible to relax this circularity and conclude that an intrinsic form of randomness with no classical analogue does exist in the quantum world.
Carl Hoefer
Laws, Chance and Quantum Randomness
The laws of nature could be indeterministic, in the sense that they simply fail to be deterministic. There are numerous examples of determinism-failure even in classical physics. A different idea entirely is that of irreducibly probabilistic laws of nature: laws whose contents are, or entail, putative objective probabilities or chances for events.
In my work I raise concerns about how well we understand the notion of an irreducible probabilistic law in general. I will explain some of these philosophical concerns, and how they motivate interest in the Bohmian approach to quantum physics. I will also discuss the relation between Bohmian quantum mechanics and the theoretical and experimental results of physicists such as Acín, Gisin, Colbeck and Renner.
The ICREA colloquia are a great way to learn about remote fields of research from our best experts. We usually have two speakers, who offer their opinions on the same subject from very different angles. Open to all ICREAs and their guests. There’s wine and munchies at the end, please book in advance!
ICREA 15th anniversary cellebration
On Tuesday the 28th of June, we will all meet to celebrate 15 years of research at ICREA and the revolution of a research system that once upon a time wanted to stop being Cinderella, and did not have a Fairy Godmother around to help out with the pumpkins and mice...
Invitations will be out soon, so stay tuned!
The event will take place at the CCCB (C. Montalegre 5, 08001 Barcelona) at 19:30 sharp. If you are late, you will miss the first surprise!
71st ICREA Colloquium - The unbearable lightness of being (a protein)
Speakers: Dr. Xavier Barril (ICREA/UB) and Dr. Xavier Salvatella (ICREA/IRB Barcelona)
When: 14th of June 2016 at 6pm
Where: ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys, 23, 6th floor
Topic:
Proteins adopt beautiful shapes that enable them to perform an incredible array of tasks. But these wiggly little creatures cannot stay still. Is this a nuisance or a blessing?
Abstract:
Proteins are the gooey stuff that makes life possible. They live in a state that is neither solid nor liquid, and their biological functions depend crucially on keeping a balance between order and disorder. However, solid entities are far simpler to understand and we tend to use (and abuse) the rigid body approximation until it breaks. In this colloquium Xavier Barril and Xavier Salvatella will present the issue of protein flexibility from different perspectives, discussing structure and dynamics, and exploring how far we must/can go into the order-disorder spectrum.
After a basic introduction to proteins, Xavier Barril will focus on the implications of protein flexibility for drug discovery. Showing that a rigid representation has been, and continues to be, extremely useful. He will present some of the failures and challenges in introducing a more realistic view, but also how the dynamic perspective is gaining ground thanks to the advances in structural biology and computational chemistry.
Xavier Salvatella will discuss where the limit is: can proteins be completely disorganised? Can we study and understand intrinsically disordered proteins from a structural point of view? How can this class proteins perform functions if they have no structure? Why have they evolved? Is it ever going to be possible to modify the function of this class of proteins with small molecules, as we have learned to do with proteins that fold?
The ICREA colloquia are a great way to learn about remote fields of research from our best experts. We usually have two speakers, who offer their opinions on the same subject from very different angles. Open to all ICREAs and their guests. There’s wine and munchies at the end, please book in advance!
70th ICREA Colloquium - What would Karl say? Two ICREA professors engage with Marx
Speakers: Prof. David Block (ICREA/UdL) and Prof. Santiago Zabala (ICREA/UPF)
When: 19th of April 2016 at 6pm
Where: ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 6th floor
Abstract: What would Karl say? Two ICREA professors engage with Marx
Although Marxist scholarship in the social sciences and humanities has never entirely disappeared, certainly since the current economic crisis began in 2007/2008 there has been a renewed interest in it. In this colloquium, a sociolinguist (David Block) and a philosopher (Santiago Zabala) discuss what Marxist thought provides in their respective academic activity.
David Block will argue that a Marxist framing of issues related to language in society can lead to understandings of how the use of language and other semiotic modes is embedded in ongoing political, economic, social and cultural processes, showing how class struggle and class warfare are both materially and discursively constructed.
Santiago Zabala will discuss the return to communism as a route to political emancipation, proposing a "hermeneutic communism" which embraces the ecological cause of degrowth and the decentralization of the state bureaucratic system in order to permit independent counsels to increase community involvement.
The ICREA colloquia are a great way to learn about remote fields of research from our best experts. We usually have two speakers, who offer their opinions on the same subject from very different angles. Open to all ICREAs and their guests. There’s wine and munchies at the end, please book in advance!
