minicourses TU/e code: 2E941 1 ECTS

5-day minicourse on Permutation Groups in Algebra and Combinatorics Prof. Cheryl Praeger University of Western Australia September 25 - 29, 2006

Prof. Cheryl E. Praeger is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Western Australia. Her research focuses on finite groups, their actions in combinatorial and geometric settings, including algorithmic aspects. The hallmark of her work is the use of deep group theoretic methods, including the simple group classification, to solve algebraic and combinatorial problems. Her publications include more than 240 journal articles and 3 books. She was profiled in 2004 in the ISI "Highly Cited Researchers as one of the top 0.5% of researchers in the mathematical sciences. Praeger's research was acknowledged by election as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia, and award of an honorary doctor of science degree from the Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.

Contents
Many important combinatorial and geometric objects admit large groups of automorphisms, which give insight into their structure and can be used for enumeration and classification. The minicourse will introduce participants to the fundamentals of permutation group theory, and a broad range of structure theorems, proof techniques, classification theorems, and applications to graphs and combinatorial designs. The group theoretic material will include an introduction to the O'Nan-Scott theorem for primitive and quasiprimitive groups. Applications will be made to (locally) s-arc transitive graphs, self-complementary graphs and other graph factorisations, block-transitive imprimitive designs and linear spaces, movement and separation in group actions, and perhaps the distribution of various algorithmically useful families of permutations.

Time and Place
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
September 25 - 29, 2006.

Admission fee
The admission fee for a minicourse is EUR 300 for university staff members and PhD students, and EUR 500 for people from industry. EIDMA and DIAMANT members receive a reduction of EUR 100 on these amounts. For undergraduate students special conditions apply. For the exact conditions please see the course registration form.

Registration
You can register by sending a completed registration form to ms. Henny Houben at eidma@tue.nl.
Deadline for registration is September 8, 2006.
Please note that your registration is only official after our written confirmation of its receipt.