From May 15 to 17, 2026, the International Center for Mathematical Sciences in Sofia (ICMS-Sofia) at the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics hosted the prestigious international conference “Celebrating Women in Representation Theory.” The event is part of the activities carried out by the Quantum Groups and Cluster Algebras research group at ICMS-Sofia led by Prof. Milen Yakimov.
The forum was officially opened by Corresponding Member Peter Boyvalenkov, Director of the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics. In his address to the participants, he emphasized the importance of such events for the development and role of IMI as a leading center for international scientific cooperation. Prof. Velichka Milousheva, Deputy Director of IMI and Deputy Director of ICMS, also delivered a welcome address, noting that that day’s event was a continuation of the “Women in Mathematics in South-Еastеrn Europe” initiative: an international conference first held in December 2020 which had since become an annual gathering of women mathematicians from the Balkans and the region.
The “Celebrating Women in Representation Theory” international conference aimed to highlight the contributions of women mathematicians in one of the most dynamic areas of modern algebra. The program included presentations of the latest research results, discussions on current issues, and opportunities for new collaborations in representation theory and related fields. The talks included in the conference program covered key topics in modern algebra, group theory, cluster algebras, and quantum groups. In addition to the scientific program, the event aimed to increase the visibility of women in mathematics and provide support for young researchers in their career development.
More information about the program and the speakers can be found on the conference website. The international conference was organized with the support of the Simons Foundation and the Scientific Program “Enhancing Research Capacity in the Mathematical Sciences” (PICOM).
