We invite submissions for the upcoming conference Values and Norms in Modeling (VaNiM 2012) which 
will be held at Eindhoven University of Technology in cooperation with Delft University of 
Technology, the Netherlands, June 25-27, 2012.

It is widely acknowledged that a large variety of values and norms (including epistemic, moral, 
and political values and norms) play an important role in modeling. Although the literature about 
value-free science is huge, the specific theme of values and norms exclusively focusing on modeling
has not yet received the attention it should. Models are often conceived of as being approximate 
representations with epistemic or even non-epistemic purposes, which makes them subject to a 
plethora of normative influences. We are interested in questions such as: How do epistemic and 
non-epistemic values affect the production and assessment of models? What is the moral significance
 of these values and norms? To what extent, if any, does the allowance of value assessments 
threaten the objectivity of models? Would it be desirable, and possible, to eliminate epistemic 
or non-epistemic values and norms from models?  We invite papers addressing these and related 
issues from a foundational as well as an applied perspective. We especially welcome contributions 
on non-epistemic values in engineering modeling, climate modeling and modeling in operations 
research.

Keynote speakers:
- Bas van Fraassen & Isabelle Peschard
- Ilkka Niiniluoto
- Stephan Hartmann
- Eric Winsberg
- Susan Sterrett
- Athur Petersen
- Wendy Parker
- Marc Le Menestrel

Abstracts of no more than 500 words can be sent to vanim2012@easychair.org until January 10, 2012. 
All proposals have to be submitted under one of the four conference themes:

1. Values in Modeling: Foundational Issues 2. Values in Engineering Modeling 
3. Values in Climate Modeling 4. Values in Operations Research Modeling

Talks will be allotted 30 minutes and will be followed by a 15 minutes discussion period.