Programme

Understanding Quantum and Relativistic Phenomena
[2025-11-04 version, slight changes possible]
Friday, 7 November 2025

, 3rd floor, METSÄTALO, University of Helsinki, Unioninkatu 40, 00170 Helsinki.

10:00 - 10:15    
Paavo Pylkkänen, University of Helsinki and Peter Van Reeth, University College London 

WELCOME, PURPOSE & LOGISTICS

TOPIC 1: Quantum theory

10:15 - 10:45 
Paavo Pylkkänen, University of Helsinki
The value of different perspectives in physics

10:45 - 11:45 
Chris Dewdney, University of Portsmouth
What have we learnt from de Broglie-Bohm trajectories?

TOPIC 2: Quantum theory and gravity

11:45 - 12:45 
Ivette Fuentes, University of Southampton and Wolfson College, University of Oxford
The foundations of quantum theory and its interplay with gravity

12:45 - 14:00 LUNCH

TOPIC 3: Dynamic universe

14:00 - 15:00 
Tuomo Suntola and Petri Lievonen, Physics Foundations Society, Espoo
The Dynamic Universe (DU)

15:00 - 15:45 
Panel Discussion, with Chris Dewdney, Ivette Fuentes, Tuomo Suntola and Petri Lievonen 

15:45 - 16:00 COFFEE

16:00 - 16:30   
Avril Styrman, University of Helsinki
Unifying Power as Nexus of Explanatory Virtues

TOPIC 4: Quantum theory II

16:30 - 17:15 
Ismo Koponen, University of Helsinki
Changing semantic meanings of wave-particle duality of single-photons: 
From historical to contemporary quantitative notions

17:15 - 17.45 
Robert Flack, University College London (ZOOM)
Weak measurements in quantum theory and their experimental realization at UCL 

Saturday, 8 November 2025

, 6th floor, PORTHANIA, Yliopistonkatu 3, Helsinki

TOPIC 5: Explaining quantum phenomena

10:00 - 10:45
Peter Van Reeth, University College London
The role of the quantum potential in the double slit and the Stern-Gerlach experiments

10:45 - 11:30
Tuomo Suntola, Physics Foundations Society, Espoo
Mass waves and de Broglie waves

11:30 - 12:30
Panel discussion with Marilu Chiofalo, Chris Dewdney, Ivette Fuentes, Ismo Koponen, Tuomo Suntola and Peter Van Reeth

12:30 - 13:30 LUNCH 

TOPIC 6: Mathematics and the Dynamic Universe

13:30 - 14:15
Petri Lievonen, Physics Foundations Society, Espoo
Mathematics in Dynamic Universe and Special Relativity/General Relativity

TOPIC 7: Visualizations of Cosmology

14:15 - 15:00 
Hamish Todd, Traceoid, UK
Visualizing de Sitter and conformal spacetime transformations with curved reflections

TOPIC 8:  Relationality

15:00 - 15:45   
Calum Robson, London School of Economics
The role of relationality in physics

19:00 - 21:30 WORKSHOP DINNER FOR INVITED SPEAKERS AND GUESTS ONLY, Restaurant , Fabianinkatu 9, 00130 Helsinki.