Rigidity phenomena play an important role in different areas of mathematics. Examples are Mostow-Margulis-Zimmer rigidity, topological rigidity, von Neumann rigidity and rigidity under quasi-isometry. The following areas and their interactions will be in the focus of the activity: K- and L-theory, surgery theory, L2-methods, finite von Neumann algebras and measure theory, geometric group theory, cohomological algebra, bounded cohomology asymptotic methods on semi-simple groups, multiplicative ergodic theory and functional-analytic aspects of group representation.

We want to bring together both leading experts and young talented junior scientists. We aim for a fruitful exchange of ideas and techniques between the different fields leading to new collaborations and results in the long run.

We are planning also one-week-workshops about rigidity and related topics, probably in October and November.

http://www.him.uni-bonn.de/rigidity

Combinatorics is a fundamental mathematical discipline as well as an essential component of many mathematical areas. It studies discrete objects and their properties. Although it is probably as old as the human ability to count, the field experienced tremendous growth during the last fifty years. This program will focus specifically on several major research topics in modern Discrete Mathematics. These topics include Probabilistic Methods, Extremal Problems for Graphs and Set Systems, Ramsey Theory, Additive Number Theory, Combinatorial Geometry, Discrete Harmonic Analysis and its applications to Combinatorics and Computer Science. We aim to foster interaction between researchers in these rather diverse fields, to discuss recent progress and to communicate new results. We would like also to put an emphasis on the exchange of ideas, approaches and techniques between various areas of Discrete Mathematics and Computer Science and on the identification of new tools from other areas of mathematics which can be used to solve combinatorial problems.

http://www.ipam.ucla.edu/programs/cma2009/

The main theme of the conference is the interplay of algebra and topology over the past 40 years, since the birth of Gelfand-Fuchs cohomology. Topics for the conference include current exciting developments in symplectic field theory, representations of infinite dimensional Lie algebras, topological quantum field theory, topological applications of cohomology of infinite dimensional Lie algebras, characteristic classes of foliations, contact homology, Chekanov-Eliashberg differential graded algebra, and Legendrian knot theory.

Mathematicians at all levels are invited to attend. An important goal of the conference is to provide an opportunity for a diverse group of mathematicians including postdoctoral researchers, those with traditionally underrepresented background, graduate students, and faculty from primary undergraduate institutions, to meet and discuss mathematics with the invited leading experts of the field.

http://www.math.ucdavis.edu/~ekim/fuchsalgetopcon/

The conference aims to promote interaction in and dissemination of current research in complex differential and algebraic geometry. The topics include symplectic geometry, Kaehler geometry, special Lagrangians (mirror symmetry), generalized complex structures, holonomy, vector bundles, connections and Chern classes for singular varieties.

The conference is sponsored by Leibniz Universität Hannover and is organized jointly with the DFG Research Training Network "Analysis, Geometry and String Theory".

http://www.ima.umn.edu/2009-2010/W9.14-18.09/

Fluids with nontrivial small-scale inhomogeneities (microstructure) include suspensions, emulsions, foams, polymer melts and solutions, surfactant solutions and liquid crystals. Flows of these complex fluids display features that are not found in simple fluids, including interfacial and bulk instabilities, texture formation and evolution and other novel flow phenomena that all can be traced back to the influence the fluid microstructure has on the stresses that develop within the flow. This workshop will focus on the experimental motivation and the constitutive modeling of complex fluids at all scales. Topics to be discussed include modeling from microscopic to mesoscopic to macroscopic, closures, constitutive model predictions including shear thinning and thickening regimes, inhomogeneities in flow including transient and steady state shearbanding, and shear induced phase transitions. 

http://www.ima.umn.edu/2009-2010/W9.14-18.09/

Kinetic descriptions play a critical role in the physical, social, and biological sciences, and have expanded into diverse applications of cutting-edge technology ranging from microfluidics, semiconductors, polymers and plasma to traffic networking and swarming. Modern kinetic theory captures fundamental issues in the modeling and simulation of phenomena across length and time scales, from the atomistic to the continuum. In the context of kinetic theory mathematical approaches help the design of numerical methods and, conversely, numerical simulations help improve the quantitative understanding of underlying complex problems.

http://www.cscamm.umd.edu/frg/frg0909/