Algebraic Combinatorics and Applications: Proceedings of the Euroconference, Algebraic Combinatorics and Applications (ALCOMA), held in Goßweinstein, Germany, September 12–19, 1999 2001 edition

Publisher Marketing: This volume contains articles based on talks given at the Euroconference Alcoma99, held in Gossweinstein in northern Bavaria, Germany, from 12 to 19 September 1999. The place is in the centre of a tourist region Frankische Schweiz with a farnaus Basilica, only a few meters away from the conference centre. The weather was extremely fine, supporting the good atmosphere of the conference. There were more than 80 participants and 40 talks, in cluding hour-long invited talks by Clausen, Dress, Foata, Fowler, Grabmeier, Gutman, Lascoux, Laue, Lulek, Morris, Paule, Strehl, Varmuza and Zim mermann. The conference brought tagether researchers from the different fields of algebraic combinatorics and its applications. The result was that pure mathematicians, applied mathematicians, computer scientists, physi cists, and chemists, both senior and young researchers from different Euro pean countries communicated in stimulating discussions everywhere in the small village. The main theme of the conference was group actions in various areas. There was an easy rule to follow for the selection of these areas: Just tauch upon the items that are related to the scientific work of Professor A. Kerber. Indeed, many authors took the opportunity to dedicate their article to him on occasion of his 60th birthday. He had the vision to turn group actions into a tool which with the help of computers can solve practical problems by just pressing the right buttons."