From Raw Data to Measurement Results – Epistemological Problems in Data Analysis

Contribution List

4. Welcome

Prof. Brigitte Falkenburg (TU Dortmund)

13/11/2025, 11:00

Introduction

5. From Raw Data to Measurement Results in Astroparticle Physics

Prof. Wolfgang Rhode (TU Dortmund)

13/11/2025, 11:10

Introduction

10. Monte Carlo In Silico. A Travel Guide

Prof. Claus Beisbart (University of Bern)

13/11/2025, 12:00

Monte Carlo Simulations

Monte Carlo computer simulations and methods have been widely used in physics for many decades, particularly in data analysis. Despite that, the growing philosophical literature about computer simulations has largely bracketed them. This talk aims to fill in this lacuna. I provide an overview of various Monte Carlo techniques as they are applied in physics, covering Monte Carlo integration,...

7. What is so special about Monte Carlo Simulations?

Johannes Mierau

13/11/2025, 14:15

Monte Carlo Simulations

Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) are the method of choice for the simulation chain in (astro-)particle physics. Even though there exists an extensive philosophical debate on the epistemic nature of computer simulations, the reasons for preferring MCSs have not been addressed. In my talk I claim that analyzing these reasons sheds light on the debate on the epistemic nature.
In (astro-)particle...

11. A Machine Learning Perspective on the Inverse Problem

Mirko Bunse (Lamarr Institute, TU Dortmund University)

13/11/2025, 15:00

The Inverse Problem

Physicists aim to reconstruct the distribution of physical quantities from the vast amounts of data collected by telescopes, as a means to better understand the physical processes of the Universe. This
reconstruction involves solving an inverse problem, specifically the Fredholm integral equation highlighted in the overview of this workshop. Methods for finding such a solution are not only...

12. Diagonalizing the Unfolding Problem

Prof. Michael Schmelling

13/11/2025, 15:45

The Inverse Problem

Assuming that the detector response is known and linear, and that indivdual events are IID distributed measurements, the continuous unfolding problem can be formulated as an infinite dimensional eigenvalue problem. This representation identifies the observable features of the unknown truth and quantifies the information content of a given measurement. The talk will present the underlying math...

6. Observational Data in Astronomy

Dominik Elsässer

13/11/2025, 17:00

Observation

Astronomy as a field has always been strongly driven by advances in instrumentation and the wealth of new observational data obtained with ever more powerful observatories.
To ensure the equal and lasting ability of scientists to analyze data from instruments that may only exist at one observatory, and from astronomical events that statistically may not repeat during human lifetimes, the...

8. The Causal Structure of Neutrino Observations

Prof. Brigitte Falkenburg (TU Dortmund)

13/11/2025, 17:45

Observation

My talk gives a short account of causation in physics and of the way in which the term "observation" is used in astroparticle physics, regarding the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. Then I discuss the causal features of the key model of cosmic messenger particles. The model is in accordance with Salmon’s conserved quantity account of causality but has additional probabilistic features, due to the...

2. Re-Assessing the Experiment / Observation-Divide

Prof. Florian Boge (TU Dortmund)

14/11/2025, 11:00

Observation

My talk reevaluates the distinction between experiment and observation. I first argue that to get clear on what role observation plays in the generation of scientific knowledge, we need to distinguish “experiential observation” as a concept closely connected to experience from “observation” in a technical sense and from “field observation”, as a concept that reasonably contrasts with...