9-11 September 2009
Room KLT6, Keynes College, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
(N6 on this map)

Introduction

Scientific explanation of some phenomenon often proceeds by elucidating the mechanism responsible for the phenomenon. But what is a mechanism, precisely? Does the notion of mechanism vary across the sciences? Causal relationships are also often invoked to explain; how do causal explanations relate to mechanistic explanations? More fundamentally, how do mechanisms relate to causality?

The three-day conference Mechanisms and Causality in the Sciences will explore these and related questions. We welcome submissions from scientists, philosophers, statisticians and others on these themes. If you would like to present a paper at the conference, please submit an abstract by 1st May. If you would like your paper to be published in the accompanying volume, please submit the full paper by 1st July.

Invited speakers include: Carl Craver, Stuart Glennan, Stephen Mumford, Stathis Psillos.

Timetable 1st May 2009: deadline for submission of titles and abstracts (of max 500 words) of papers for presentation at the conference to be emailed to Phyllis McKay Illari please say whether you would be willing to submit your paper to a volume on this topic. 1st June 2009: notification of acceptance of papers for presentation at the conference. 15th June 2009: deadline for speaker confirmation of attendance. 1st July 2009: deadline for submission of full papers for publication to be emailed to Phyllis McKay Illari 15th July 2009: deadline for receipt of early-bird registration to attend the conference. Early-bird registration fees: 30 pounds sterling. Register by filling in this form, and emailing it to us You will be invoiced for payment, which may be made by credit card, debit card, cheque or bank transfer. If registering after 15th July the fees are 60 pounds sterling. Please register by following the above procedure. 9-11th September 2009: Conference. 1st November 2009: notification of acceptance of papers for publication. 1st December 2009: deadline for final version of papers accepted for publication.

Programme The conference schedule is available here: Abstracts are available here:

Slides
Casini: Clarke: Craver: Davies: deVreese: Howick:	Kuhlmann: Kuorikoski: LaCaze: Lemeire: Leuridan: Oftedal:	Psillos: Reiss: Reutlinger: Ruzzene: Sustar: VanEck:	Weber: Weinert: Drouet: FazekasKertesz: Flores: Glennan:	Illari: Kampis:

Local Information

Accommodation

Rooms on campus can be booked by calling 01227 828000 or, for certain discounted rooms, filling in this form. There are also many hotels and guest houses within easy reach of the University: consult Tourist information or Around Canterbury for general tourist information.

Internet access

To get internet access at the university (wireless access is limited), apply at Computing Service Reception (the fee is 10 pounds). Visitors from UK universities may be able to connect via Janet roaming. There is also an internet cafe in Canterbury.

Organisation

This conference is organised by Phyllis McKay Illari and Jon Williamson as an activity of the Centre for Reasoning at the University of Kent. It is the fourth event in the Causality in the Sciences series of conferences, and is a component of the research project Mechanisms and Causality funded by the Leverhulme Trust.

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the Mind Association, the British Society for the Philosophy of Science, the Aristotelian Society and the School of European Culture and Languages, the Kent Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and the Centre for Reasoning at the University of Kent for providing financial support.

The image at the top of the page of bacterial mechanisms of antibiotic resistance is © Kenneth Todar.