Curriculum Vitae
PERSONAL
Born in England, April 4, 1950.
Married to Maria Rita Kessler; two children: Frances (b. 1985), Lucas (b. 1987).
Nationality: UK/USA.
EDUCATION
1971-1978, Ph.D., Department of History and Philosophy of Science, Chelsea College (now King's College KQC), University of London. Courses subject to examination: Mathematical logic, philosophy of science, history of philosophy, foundations of probability theory. Ph.D. thesis title: Problems of measurement in quantum theory (1978). Supervisors: J. Dorling, M.L.G. Redhead.
1968-1970, B.Sc. (Hons), Physics, first class honours. University of Canterbury, New Zealand
1963-1967,Secondary schooling, St. Bede's College, Christchurch, New Zealand.
POSITIONS HELD
1984- , University of Oxford: Reader in Philosophy (from July 1996), University Lecturer in Philosophy of Physics (from Oct. 1984). Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. Member of Faculty of Philosophy. Unofficial Member of Department of Physics (since 1987).
1978-1984, Assistant Professor in Department of Philosophy, São Paulo State University at Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil. Member of Centro de Lógica, Epistemologia e História da Ciência, UNICAMP.
AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS
Leverhulme Trust Institute Award (Jan. 1990 - Dec. 1992) for research in foundations of quantum physics (Research collaborator Dr. P. Kaloyerou).
Radcliffe Research Fellowship in Philosophy, academic year 1995/6.
Visiting Erskine Fellowship in Physics and Philosophy, University of Canterbury, NZ, July-August 1996.
Special Lectureship, Oxford University, for the academic year 1996-7.
British Academy/Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowship, for the academic year 1999-2000.
Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB) Study Leave, Trinity Term, 2004.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND CONSULATANCIES
Departmental Assessor, Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method, London School of Economics 2001-.
Member of Program Committee, Philosophy of Science Association Meeting 2002.
TALKS AT CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS
Annual conference of the British Society for the Philosophy of Science, Southampton, 1988.
International conference: 62 years of Uncertainty; historical, philosophical and physical inquiries into the foundations of quantum mechanics, Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture, Erice, Sicily, 1989.
International conference: Physical interpretations of relativity theory II, London, 1990.
International conference: Bell's theorem and the foundations of modern physics, Cesena, Italy, 1991.
Beijing International Conference on Philosophy of Science, Realism vs. Anti-Realism, Beijing, 1992.
Philosophy of Science Association Biennial Meeting, Chicago, 1992 (paper co-authored by R. Sypel).
Workshop on Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Calcutta, December 1992.
Seminar: From J.C. Bose to Bohr's Complementarity - New light on Light, Bose Institute, Calcutta, December 1992 (Inaugural address).
Workshop: Semantical Aspects of Spacetime Theories, Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung, Univerity of Bielefeld, March 1993.
Conference on the Philosophy of Physics (Sigma Club), University of Cambridge, May 20-1, 1994.
3rd UK Conference on Foundations of Quantum Theory and Relativity, Cambridge, September 13-15, 1994.
International Conference: Conceptual Problems of Relativistic Quantum Mechanics, London, Ontario, October 7-9, 1994.
International Colloquium: Science, philosophie et histoire des sciences en Europe, Association Diderot of the Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, 9-10 December, 1994.
Conference on the Philosophy of Physics (Sigma Club), University of Cambridge, May 19-20, 1995.
Joint Session of the Aristotelian Society and the Mind Association; University of Liverpool, July 1995.
International Conference: Quantum Theory without Observers, ZiF, Bielefeld, July 1995.
International Conference: Scientific Thought from the Age of Galileo to the Present, Lima, Peru 31 July-11 August 1995.
4th UK Conference on Conceptual Problems in Quantum Theory, Durham, September 1995.
Workshop on Geometry and Physics, 1900-1930; Open University, 14-19 March 1996.
One-Day Conference: Relativity Theory: Conventionalism and Problems of Theory Choice, University of Oxford, 18 May 1996.
Conference:The Electron. 100 years of Physics and History, British Society for the History of Science, London, 11-12 April 1997.
Conference: The Electron and the Birth of Microphysics, Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology, Cambridge, MA; 9-10 May 1997.
Conference in Memory of Robert Weingard, University of Oxford, 31 May 1997.
Conference in Honour of Michael Redhead, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, 20-21 June 1997.
6th UK Conference on Conceptual and Mathematical Foundations of Physics, University of Durham, September 1997.
Mini-Meeting on Quantum Theory, Imperial College, University of London, 27 November, 1998.
One-Day Conference: Philosophy of General Relativity, LSE, 22 May 1999; participation in panel discussion.
8th UK Conference on Foundations of Physics, Imperial College London, September 13-17, 1999.
International Workshop: The Conceptual Foundations of Statistical Mechanics, van Leer Institute, Jerusalem, May 22-25, 2000.
Conference of the Australasian Association for the History, Philosophy & Social Studies of Science, University of Sydney, June 2000.
9th UK Conference on Foundations of Physics, University of Birmingham, September 11-15, 2000.
10th UK Conference on Foundations of Physics, Queen's University, Belfast, September 10-14, 2001.
Conference: New Directions in the Foundations of Physics, American Institute of Physics, Maryland, May 3-5, 2002.
International workshop: Seven Pines Symposium VI, May 15-19, 2002.
Conference: Ideas of Albert Abraham Michelson in Mathematical Physics,
Mathematical Conference Center at Bedlewo (Poland), August 04-11, 2002.
11th UK Conference on the Foundations of Physics, Leeds, September 2-5, 2003.
Conference: Foundations of Space and Time, Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University, March 24-27, 2004.
One-Day Conference on Philosophy of Physics, Centre for Time, University of Sydney, March 30, 2004.
TALKS AT THE FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONS (since 1978)
Centre of Logic, Epistemology and History of Science, University of Campinas, Brazil, 1978, 1987, 1992.
Institute of Physics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 1980.
Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 1980, 1992.
Institute of Physics, University of Brasília, Brazil, 1981.
Department of Philosophy, Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1981. Brazilian Centre for Research in Physics (CBPF), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1982. Department of Physics, University of Canterbury, NZ, 1982, 1996. Department of Physics, Victoria University, NZ, 1982. Institute of Theoretical Physics, São Paulo, Brazil (Inaugural Lecture for commencement of academic year, 1984). Department of History and Philosophy of Science, King's College, University of London 1985, 1991. Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford, 1985. Sigma Club Meeting, University of Cambridge, 1986, 1988, 1992. Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford, 1986. Centre de Philosophie des Sciences, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1988, 1991. Department of Logic and Metaphysics, University of St. Andrews, 1989. Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto, 1989. Department of Philosophy, University of Western Ontario, 1989. Department of Philosophy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, 1989. Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, 1990. Institute of Mathematics, University of Campinas, Brazil, 1990, 1992. Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University College, London, 1991. Board of Extra-Mural Studies, University of Cambridge, 1991, 1992. Atominstitut der Österreichischen Universitäten, Vienna, 1991. Department of History and Foundations of Mathematics and Science, University of Utrecht, 1992. Institute of Physics, University of Campinas, Brazil, 1992. Department of Post-graduate Studies in Philosophy, Catholic University of Campinas, Brazil, 1992. Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, 1992, 1993, 1994. School of Architecture, Oxford Brookes University, 1993. Société Belge de Logique et de Philosophie des Sciences, 1993. Department of Philosophy, University of Leeds, 1994. Interdisciplinary seminar on logic, language and mind: 'Paradoxes'; St. Catherine's College, Oxford 1994. Department of History, Philosophy and Communication of Science, University College, London 1994. Department of Physics, University of Kent 1994. Philosophy of Science Research Students Group Seminar, London School of Economics and King's College London, 1994. Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford, 1994. Institut d'Histoire et Philosophie des Sciences et des Techniques, Université de Paris I, 1994. British Society for the Philosophy of Science, 1995, 2002. Orkney Science Festival, September 1995. Portsmouth and District Physical Sciences Society 1995. Department of Philosophy, King's College, University of London 1995. Oxford University Philosophy Society, 1996. Sigma Club, University of Cambridge, 1996. Quantum Computation and Cryptography Seminar, University of Oxford, 1996. Department of Philosophy, University of Canterbury, NZ; 1996. Royal Society of New Zealand, Canterbury Branch, 1996. Department of Science and Technology Studies Speakers Series, University College London, 1996. Institut Superieur de Philosophie, Université de Louvain-la-Neuve, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002. Centre for Philosophical Studies, King's College London, 2000. Philosophy of Physics Seminar, Oxford University, 2000. Department of Philosophy, University of Bristol, 2001. Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS), Porto Alegre, Brazil, 2002. EXAMINATION Acted as occasional external examiner for the University of London and the University of Cambridge (1991-). Acted as examiner of graduate theses in: GRADUATE THESIS SUPERVISION M.Sc. (UNICAMP) Sílvio Chibeni (distinction) 1984. B.Phil. (Oxford) Roland Sypel (distinction) 1990; Oliver Pooley (distinction) 1998; Christopher Timpson 2000. D.Phil. (Oxford) Roland Sypel 1994; Tim Budden 1997; Jeeva Anandan 1997, Oliver Pooley (co-supervisor Simon Saunders, 2002), Katherine Brading (2002).
REFEREEING (since 1984) Acted as referee for: American Journal of Physics, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Foundations of Physics, International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Journal of Physics A, Philosophy of Science, Physics Letters A, Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, Transactions of the Royal Society. JOURNALS Secretary for the journal Cadernos de História e Filosofia da Ciência, Brazil. 1980 - 1982. Member of Editorial Advisory Board of Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics. 1995-; International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 1996-. ORGANISATION OF CONFERENCES, COLLOQUIA Colloquium on Philosophy of Quantum Field Theory, Oxford, May 1986. Co-organiser H.R. Harré. Colloquium on Philosophy of Vacuum, Oxford, June 1987. Co-organisers H.R. Harré and S. Saunders. Why General Relativity is a Perfectly Machian Theory; Oxford, December 1993. Complex Numbers in Quantum Mechanics, Oxford, June 1995. Co-organiser J. Barbour. Dispositions in Science, retirement colloquium for H.R. Harré, Oxford, July 1995. Co-organiser B. Müller. Vth UK Conference on Conceptual and Philosophical Problems in Physics, Oxford, September 10-13, 1996; co-organiser M. Suarez. Colloquium in Memory of Robert Weingard, Oxford, 31 May 1997. Co-organiser H R Harré. 11th UK Conference on Foundations of Physics, Oxford, September 9-13, 2002; co-organiser P. Morgan. ADMINISTRATION Member of Joint Committee for Physics and Philosophy, 1985 to present. Chairman of Joint Committee 1987-1989, 1992-1994, 1996-1999. (The Joint Committee runs the undergraduate course in Physics and Philosophy at Oxford.) Curator of the Philosophy Centre, Oxford; 1997-1999. The Curator is Chairman of the Management Committee, which is responsible for the administration staff, refurbishment and day-to-day running of the Philosophy Centre at 10 Merton Street.
(i) philosophy: Universities of Oxford (2 D.Phil.), Cambridge (5 Ph.D.), L.S.E. (2 Ph.D.), Hull (1 M.A.), Campinas (2 M.A.).
(ii) mathematics: University of Oxford (1 M.Sc.)
(iii) physics: Universities of Oxford (1 D.Phil.), Utrecht (1 Ph.D.)
(iv) mathematical sciences: University of Durham (1 Ph.D.)