Scaling the Cosmos in the Modern Era: Images, Tools, and Instruments
International Conference
Florence, Museo Galileo
November 19-21, 2025
The conference Scaling the Cosmos in the Modern Era: Images, Tools, and Instruments revolves around the
concept of scaling as a critical framework that goes beyond simple measurement: it operates across spatial,
temporal, and cognitive registers, transforming how we understand, represent, and perceive the universe. The
conference will examine the diverse ways in which images, tools, and instruments have been used to scale the
cosmos. From early astronomical clocks and celestial globes to modern digital simulations, each act of scaling
reveals both possibilities and limitations in our attempt to grasp the universe.
By bringing together perspectives from the Humanities and the Natural Sciences, the conference reframes the
very idea of scale. Mapping the cosmos, creating visual representations, and devising instruments are shown to
function not only as tools of scientific inquiry but also as cultural artefacts. This interdisciplinary approach
demonstrates that scaling the cosmos is an evolving practice, enabling us to understand the universe not
merely as a physical reality, but as a complex cultural, epistemic, and historical construct.
The conference is co-organized by the CNRS/Centre André-Chastel and the Museo Galileo. It is part of the
research project “Celestial Spectacles” (CNRS/Centre André-Chastel), funded by the CNRS Chair of Professor
Junior ARVIGRAPH. The Museo Galileo also contributed to sustaining the conference, which situates within the
centennial of the Istituto di Storia della Scienza (founded in 1925), while also drawing on its recent exhibitions
Italian Hours (2023) and Celestial Splendours (2023-2024). The conference marks the 400 th anniversary of
Giovanni Domenico Cassini’s birth as well. This event also receives scientific support from the PEPR “Origins”
(CNRS), dedicated to the origins of planets and life, specially through the Human Sciences axis.
13 Nov 2025