CIMPA-UNESCO-VIETNAM School and Workshop on Braids in Algebra, Geometry and Topology

• Nguyen Viet Dung ( Institute of Mathematics, Hanoi, Vietnam) vietdung@math.ac.vn
• Martin Lorenz (Temple University, Philadelphia, USA) lorenz@temple.edu
• Phung Ho Hai (Institute of Mathematics, Hanoi, Vietnam) phung@math.ac.vn

• Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (Vietnam)
• Centre International de Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées (France)
• The National Science Foundation (USA)
• Institute of Mathematics, Hanoi, (Vietnam)
• National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (Vietnam)
• The International Mathematical Union
• The International Center for Theoretical Physics

Braids, originally introduced in the context of low-dimensional topology, have since developed into a theme that permeates large parts of mathematics, thereby providing a link between many different areas of current mathematical research. The main topics of the CIMPA school in Hanoi will include knot theory, quantum groups and hyperplane arrangements, three thriving branches of mathematics where braid groups play an essential role. The school is primarily aimed at postgraduate students and young researchers in the region. After providing an introduction to the theory of braid groups, further lecture courses will lead up to some current problems in the aforementioned areas and related topics. The school will be followed by a 3-day workshop for specialists that will be devoted to a discussion of recent advances and perspectives for future research.