School of Quantum Foundations: Speakable and Unspeakable

MedILS (University of Split) | 18–27 August 2025

We are pleased to announce the School of Quantum Foundations: Speakable and Unspeakable, a ten-day event dedicated to the exploration of fundamental questions in quantum mechanics. The school will take place at the University of Split, offering an inspiring setting for deep scientific engagement and informal exchange.

Split offers a unique blend of historical charm, coastal beauty, and vibrant cultural life. Nestled along the Adriatic Sea and framed by mountains, the city provides the perfect environment for both focused study and relaxed interaction. Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy its UNESCO World Heritage sites, Mediterranean atmosphere, and easy access to beaches, cafes, and scenic walks — all within walking distance of the university campus.

This event is aimed at advanced Master's students, PhD candidates, and early-career researchers with a strong interest in the conceptual and theoretical foundations of quantum mechanics. Participants will benefit from a programme of high-level lectures, hands-on tutorials, and interactive discussions led by experts in the field.

Programme Overview

Dates:
Start: Monday, 18 August 2025
End: Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Location:
MedILS (Mediterranean Life Sciences Institute)
Šetalište Ivana Meštrovića 45, 21000, Split, Croatia

Daily Schedule (tentative):
10:00 – 12:30 | Lectures and coffee break
12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch break
13:30 – 16:30 | Tutorials, group activities, guest seminars and coffee break

Each lecturer will give a series of four 1-hour lectures. Afternoons will be dedicated to tutorials, practical projects, guest lectures, and discussions, providing participants with the opportunity to actively engage with the material and each other.

Detailed Lecture Program

Ward Struyve – Bohmian Mechanics

1. Introduction to Bohmian mechanics

2. Non-locality, relativity and quantum field theory

3. Bohmian quantum gravity and cosmology

Angelo Bassi – Collapse Models

1. Ways to modify the Schrödinger equation: how the no-signaling condition constraints the dynamics.  

2. The GRW model of spontaneous wave function collapse: definition and main properties.

3. Interferometric tests of collapse models

4. Non-interferometric tests of collapse models

Tim Maudlin – Bell’s Theorem and Related Topics

1. EPR, Locality, Causal Isolation and Einstein’s Criterion of Reality

2. Bell’s Theorem and Its Premises

3. Implementing Non-Locality: The Question of a Preferred Foliation

4. Fundamental Postulates of Relativity, Alternative Space-Time Structures, and Questions About the Possibility of Superluminal Signalling. 

Sandro Donadi – Decoherence

1. Open Quantum Systems: introduction to density matrix, reduced density matrix, intuition of decoherence

2. Kraus representation, examples of maps on a qubit: spin flip, pure dephasing, amplitude damping

3. Lindblad master equation, sketch of the derivation, amplitude damping, position decoherence

4. Decoherence in CSL and DP, amplification mechanism, collisional, blackbody, and vibrational decoherence

Matteo Carlesso – Optomechanics and Tests of Quantum Mechanics

1. What is an optomechanical system: concept and examples

2. Ground state cooling mechanisms

3. Optomechanical systems as position and force sensors

4. Testing quantum mechanics and alternative models with optomechanics

Logistics and Costs

We are committed to making this school accessible to all interested participants. Thanks to the support of the University of Split and the John Bell Institute we are able to offer:

• No registration fee

• Free accommodation in student dormitories (double occupancy)

• Free breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks

Participants will only need to cover their travel expenses and any dinners or personal costs.

Applications

Registration is available at the following link. The deadline is 30th June 2025.

Spaces are limited to a maximum of 39 participants, so early registration is encouraged.

Once the selection process is complete, all admitted students will be informed of each other’s participation to facilitate the arrangement of shared accommodation (two per room).

Organizers

Angelo Bassi (University of Trieste) - abassi@units.it

Tim Maudlin (New York University) - timmaudlin@JohnBellInstitute.org

Sandro Donadi (Queen’s University Belfast) - s.donadi@qub.ac.uk