Workshop

       Linear Algebraic Groups, Quadratic Forms and Related Topics
    
                      EILAT, February 1--5, 2004

                         FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT


   Scientific Committee:


Eva Bayer-Fluckiger (Lausanne)

Detlev Hoffmann (Besancon)

Boris Kunyavskii (Ramat Gan)

Ulf Rehmann (Bielefeld)



   Local Organizers:


Mikhail Borovoi (borovoi@post.tau.ac.il)

Boris Kunyavskii (kunyav@macs.biu.ac.il)

Eugene Plotkin (plotkin@macs.biu.ac.il)

Gregory Soifer (soifer@macs.biu.ac.il)


   Program:

The conference will cover all aspects of linear algebraic groups, 
quadratic forms and related structures: algebraic, geometric, and 
arithmetic. Morning is planned for 1-hour survey talks, and late 
afternoon for shorter communications. Long afternoon break is 
reserved for non-formal discussions. On Tuesday morning a trip 
around Eilat Gulf is planned.

Those interested in participating are already invited to contact
one of the local organizers. The second announcement with more
details as for the program and registration formalities will be
circulated in October 2003.

This workshop is part of the activities of the European Research
and Training Network ``Algebraic K-theory, Linear Algebraic Groups
and Related Structures'' (HPRN--CT--2002--00287). It is supported by 
the European Algebraic Geometry Research Training Network (EAGER) 
and the Emmy Noether Research Institute in Mathematics. 


   Accommodation:

The conference will take place in a deluxe hotel in Eilat (a
resort town on the shores of the Red Sea).


   Location:

The venue of the conference, Eilat, is the southern most point in
Israel. It is a resort city hugging the shores of the Red Sea,
surrounded by the magnificent Edom Mountain Range, characterized
by its crystal clear waters and year-round sunshine. Its unique
undersea vista, flora and fauna of coral reefs may be admired by
glass-bottom boat or at the breath-taking Underwater Observatory
and of course, for the enthusiasts, by snorkeling or scuba diving.
The desert landscapes inland are no less fascinating. Eilat is
well known for its mild winter climate. The weather  during the
month of February is warm during the day and cooler at night.
Temperatures range from 12°C (at night) to 25°C. It seldom rains 
in Eilat even in winter. Participants who stay longer or come 
earlier might want to join some of many interesting day-trips 
which start in Eilat, either inside Israel or crossing the border 
to Jordan or Egypt (Moon Valley, Akaba, Petra, Wadi Rum, Nuweiba, 
Colored Canyon, or even Santa Catharina). (Reservation can be made 
on the spot through the hotel's concierge.)


   Financial support:

If you belong to one of the above mentioned networks, you can apply 
to your node coordinator for support. Otherwise please contact Boris
Kunyavskii at kunyav@macs.biu.ac.il indicating age, academic degree, 
nationality, place of residence, affiliation.