Conference on Quantum Gravity and Computation

Sydney: 20th-22nd September, 2023

We warmly welcome you to delve into the profound interplay between Quantum Gravity and Computation at our three-day conference from September 20th to September 22nd, 2023 – generously supported by The John Templeton Foundation, the Australian Research Council, and the Big Questions Institute.

Venue Details

The conference will be held at the CCANESA Boardroom located in the Madsen Building at the University of Sydney. View on Map.

Accommodation will be in Rydges Camperdown, a short stroll from the venue. Breakfast is included.

Conference Theme

Quantum gravity beckons for fresh insights, and computation-theoretic ideas might be the key. This conference will venture into the uncharted intersections of these two realms, reimagining the foundations of quantum gravity.

Schedule

Wednesday, 20th September:

• 8:45-9:15 – Morning tea
• 9:15-9:30 – Introductions and welcome
• 9:30-10:30 – Paul Davies (Arizona State University; Beyond Centre): “Open Questions at the Quantum Frontier”
• 10:30-11:30 – Xerxes Arsiwalla (Pompeu Fabra University; Wolfram Research): “Pregeometric Foundations for Quantum Gravity”
• 11:30-12:00 – Tea/coffee break
• 12:00-13:00 – Eric Cavalcanti (Griffith University): “Quantum Process Formalism and Relative Events”
• 13:00-14:00 – Lunch (to be served in the same venue)
• 14:00-15:00 – Daniele Oriti (LMU): “Quantum Information Structure of Spacetime: Combinatorics, Algebra, Entanglement and Proto-causality in Quantum Gravity States and Processes”
• 15:00-16:00 – Celeste Hogan (Texas Tech University): “Process-relational Pre-Geometry and Information”
• 16:00-16:30 – Buffer zone/discussion period
• 19:00 – Dinner at Thai Riffic (224 King Street, Newtown = 10-15 minute walk from the hotel)

Thursday, 21st September:

• 9:00-9:30 – Morning tea
• 9:30-10:30 – Renate Loll (Radboud University): “Nonperturbative Quantum Gravity Unlocked by Computation”
• 10:30-11:30 – Jakub Mielczarek (Jagiellonian University): “Is the Universe a Quantum Computer?”
• 11:30-12:00 – Tea/coffee break
• 12:00-13:00 – Hatem Elshatlawy (Wolfram Research): “Defining the Observer in Ruliology”
• 13:00-14:00 – Lunch (to be served in the same venue)
• 14:00-15:00 – Dean Rickles (University of Sydney): “Ruliology and Dual-Aspect Monism”
• 15:00-16:00 – Nick Dean (University of Sydney): “On Abstract Objects and Pragmatic Foundations”
• 19:00 – Dinner at Otto Noorba (79 Glebe Point Road, Glebe = 15 minute walk from the hotel)

Friday, 22nd September:

• 9:00-9:30 – Morning tea
• 9:30-10:30 – David Corfield (University of Kent): “Modal and Linear Homotopy Type Theory”
• 10:30-11:30 – Danny Terno (Macquarie University): “Black Hole Disinformation Problem, Version 2”
• 11:30-12:00 – Tea/coffee break
• 12:00-13:00 – Gerard Milburn (University of Queensland): “Space and Time: From the Inside Out” [Via Zoom]
• 13:00-14:00 – Lunch (to be served in the same venue)
• 14:00-15:00 – Fabio Costa (University of Queensland): “Background Independence and Quantum Causal Structure”
• 15:00-16:00 – Closing discussion: “Quo Vadis Quantum Gravity?”
• 18:30 – Pizzas at The Rose Hotel (52-54 Cleveland Street, Chippendale = 15 minute walk from the hotel)