Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities (SVT), University of Bergen

One of the big achievements of the Scientific Revolution was the recognition that mathematics, and numbers in particular, can help us understand and control the world.

Numbers give rise to measuring the world, a theme that Daniel Kehlmann took up in his novel with this name. Friedrich Gauss and Alexander von Humboldt stood for two dominant and different ways of taking this measure, while in the end it was uncertain whose measure was more accurate: the one’s who traveled or the one’s who stayed at home. In our days the magic of numbers has risen manifold. We have apparently transitioned from the +20 to the +40 C climate change society, but we are less able to understand what is behind the numbers which change our lives. Perhaps the numbers in our sciences can misguide us as well as explain the world.

Professor Ragnar Fjelland at SVT has for many years contributed to greater reflexivity in the sciences, in particular here at UiB. Now he shall retire from his position. SVT takes this opportunity to celebrate his achievements through this mini-symposium.

We have invited the following speakers to this event: Hanne Andersen, Aarhus University, Dale Jamieson, NY University School of Law, Roger Strand, SVT, University of Bergen, Dan Sarewitz, Arizona State University, Bruna de Marchi, SVT, University of Bergen, Rani Anjum, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and last but not least, Ragnar Fjelland, SVT, University of Bergen.

The symposium is open to all interested. No registration is required.

When: Wednesday 11 June 2014, 13:15-17:30 & Thursday 12 June 2014, 09:15-13:00
Where: Lille auditorium, SV-bygget (Fosswinckels gate 6)

More information: www.uib.no/svt