Elena Castellani

Elena Castellani is Full Professor of Philosophy of Science at the Department of Literature and Philosophy (DILEF), University of Florence since September 2023. She previously served as Associate Professor (2005-2023) and Researcher (2002-2005) at the same institution. Her academic journey includes prestigious fellowships at Cologne University, Princeton University, and the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy.

Professor Castellani's research centers on the history and philosophy of physics, with particular emphasis on symmetries, dualities, and structural approaches in theoretical physics. Her work examines ontological aspects of physical theories, reductionism and emergence, the philosophy of string theory, and scientific representation. She has made significant contributions to understanding Curie's principle, symmetry breaking, and the philosophical implications of dualities in quantum field theory.

Her publication record shows consistent high-impact output across philosophy of physics journals, with recent focus on convergence strategies for theory assessment, nested modalities in astrophysical modeling, and renormalization group methods. Her work demonstrates how historical case studies, particularly from early string theory development, can illuminate methodological questions in fundamental physics.

• Premio Le Scienze 2002 for Foundations of Physics
• Editorial Board, Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics (2008-present)
• Editorial Board, Philosophy of Physics (2022-present)
• Steering Committee, European Philosophy of Science Association (2017-2021)

Professor Castellani actively supervises PhD students through the joint Florence-Pisa doctoral program in Philosophy. She has organized numerous international workshops on symmetries, dualities, and string theory, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between physicists and philosophers. Her research is supported through collaborative international projects and participation in major European philosophy of science networks.

She leads several seminar series including the interdisciplinary Physics-Philosophy seminar (since 2000) and the Logic and Philosophy of Science seminar (since 2002). Her international collaborations span institutions in Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United States, and Switzerland, reflecting her prominent role in the global philosophy of physics community.