Preface

Abstract

6th International Conference in Graph Theory 28 August-2 september 2000, Marseille-Luminy, France The Graph Theory Conference in Marseille Luminy attracts about 200 participants (150 of whom give lectures) every five years. The aim of the conference in 2000 is to give its place to graph theory within combinatorics in view of the dramatic emergence of this branch of mathematics in recent years. Indeed, it seems more and more that combinatorics will be one of the main directions in mathematical research in the next century. Many practical problems are modeled by methods of discrete mathematics in general and those of graph theory in particular (interconnexion networks, VLSI, algorithms, complexity, to name a few). Combinatorics is without doubt the branch of mathematics which has expanded most in the past few years. This expansion is due, in part, to the formidable development of computers and their uses, but we also notice a growing demand on discrete mathematics where modeling is concerned from other disciplines, be it the sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) or technical applications in engineering or economics. Indeed, the genome project, while officially a cooperation between biologists and computer scientists, is rooted in great part in discrete mathematics and combinatorics is a very important part in the emerging discipline of bioinformatics. In all these contexts graph theory is a basic tool and it is important to take stock of recent research in the area. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the European Commission Research DG (Human Potential Programme, High Level Scientific Conferences - HPCF-CT-1999-0017), the “Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique” (CNRS), the “Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique” (INRIA), the French Mathematical Society (SMF), the ”Direction de la Recherche et de la Technologie” (DRET DGA), the “Laboratoire d'Informatique Algorithmique: Fondements et Applications” (LIAFA), the French Ministry for National Education Research and Technology (MENRT), the French Foreighn Office, the “Université du Maine” (France) and local institutions (“Mairie de Marseille”, “Association du Grand Luminy”, “Conseil General des Bouches du Rhones”). Selected papers from the conference will also appear as one or more special issues of Discrete Mathematics.This volume will contain full-length versions of presentations at the conference. Details can be obtained from the organizers and the website http://www.liafa.jussieu.fr/~icgt2000 Orléans, July 2000