The researcher participated actively in seminars and conferences hosted organized the School of Philosophy, Religion and the History of Science and by the Centre for Metaphysics and Mind. He also actively participated in seminars sponsored by Robbie Williams’ Nature of Representation Project. In the other direction, his presence and engagement in these collaborative activities gave him an opportunity to have a constant impact on the philosophical life of the School.
He presented twice at the Centre for Metaphysics and Mind and once at the senior seminar of the School of Philosophy, Religion and the History of Science.
Second, the researcher used the funding to organize four workshops and a conference on the topics of this project. This allowed the researcher to learn from scholars from Leeds and other institutions who gave presentations specifically on the topic of the proposed project at the events. Visitors included Professor David Chalmers (NYU), Professor Jonathan Schaffer (Rutgers), and Professor Amie Thomasson (Miami/Dartmouth). Furthermore, the researcher made numerous new contacts in Europe – with Dr. Tim Button, Professor Matti Eklund and Dr. Alastair Wilson being among the Europe-based researchers who gave presentations at Leeds during the project.
Third, the researcher gained knowledge on the topic of the project via informal interaction with these, and other, colleagues at Leeds who were already working on related topics, including Professor John Divers, Dr. Juha Saatsi and Professor Robin Le Poidevin as well as graduate students such as Jade Fletcher and Fabio Ceravolo. Additionally, Dr. Juha Saatsi and Professor Robin Le Poidevin both gave formal presentations at events the researcher organized at Leeds.
Fourth, there were a number of research projects which are relevant to the proposed project, most directly Robert Williams’ ‘The Nature of Representation’ and Stephen French’s Leverhulme Trust project ‘Physical Structuralism: Historical Origins and Future Destiny’. The researcher learnt from discussions with participants in these projects, which included the principle investigators, other Leeds faculty such as Jack Woods and Ed Elliott, and visitors such as Richard Heck and Tyler Burge.
Fifth, the researcher received continuous on the job training in project management by supporting the PI in implementing the work programme, financial management and reporting to the Research Executive Agency on project progress. One example involved management of an assistant for the conference, Kristi Boone. Another is the careful budgeting of conferences to ensure the project objectives were met.
The project has resulted in three papers in leading peer-reviewed journals, two manuscripts which have received a ‘revise and resubmit’ verdict from leading peer-reviewed journals, two manuscripts which are under review at leading peer-reviewed journals and a manuscript in progress.
