Representation theory of Lie algebras, quantum groups and algebraic groups represent a major area of mathematical research in the twenty-first century with numerous applications in other areas of mathematics (such as: geometry, number theory, combinatorics, finite and infinite groups, etc.) and mathematical physics (such as: conformal field theory, statistical mechanics, integrable systems, etc.). A conference on Algebraic and Combinatorial approaches to Representation Theory is proposed to be held at Bangalore, India during August 12-16, 2010. This conference will precede the International Congress of Mathematicians 2010 held at Hyderabad, India. It will provide a unique opportunity for specialists in representation theory from Asia, Europe and United States to interact, share ideas, and report on recent developments in this important area of research.
This grant will provide support for airfare of about seventeen mathematicians from US Universities and full support for about nine US graduate students to participate in this conference at Bangalore. Local support (room and board) for US mathematicians will be provided through a grant from International Center for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), India. The conference will provide an excellent opportunity for mathematicians and graduate students from the United States to interact with researchers around the world. In particular, it would provide an opportunity to develop cooperation and collaboration with many well-established research institutes in India. These interactions should help US universities to attract strong international graduate students and ultimately strengthen the pool of mathematicians in the United States.
The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) meets once every four years. The meetings are held in different countries and the choice of country is made by the International Mathematical Union. The ICM features talks in all areas of mathematics, given by people who have made major contributions to the subject. The Fields medals are awarded at the ICM. Associated with each ICM are a number of satellite conferences. These are more specialized meetings and focus on specific, research active areas of mathematics. In 2010, the ICM was held in Bengaluru, India. One of the satellite meetings associated with it, was the conference on Algebraic and Combinatorial methods in Representation theory, August 12--16, 2010. The conference was partially funded by a grant from the National Board of Higher Mathematics, India. Travel support for US participants was provided by the NSF Grant, 0963910. The conference brought together mathematicians from many countries, including, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, Taiwan and ofcourse India and the US. It featured talks on recent research in the area and they were given, by both well--established mathematicians and rising young stars. One of the goals of the meeting was to enable US mathematicians to meet their counterparts from other countries and to foster collaboration and cooperation with them. Several publications have resulted from this meeting. It was particularly valuable for US graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, since the contacts made at this meeting were helpful in their job applications in academia and industry. A follow up to this meeting was arranged at the University of California, Riverside. The goal was to strengthen the contacts established in Bengaluru and to benefit an even wider group of US mathematicians. A collection of peer reviewed research articles is being publsihed by the America Mathematical Society. The volume appears in the series, Contemporary Mathematics, Vol 602, 2013.
