The Mathematical Sciences after the Year 2000: Proceedings of the International Conference (Beirut, Lebanon, 11–15 January 1999)

This volume contains articles by leading mathematicians and physicists in different directions, such as geometry, probability, variational problems, dynamical systems, mathematical economics, quantum field theory, string theory and cosmology. Acknowledgments Program Contents Geometry and Physics in the 20th Century • Sir Michael Atiyah A Layman’s Guide to M-Theory • Michael Duff Mathematical Models in Economics • Ivar Ekeland Duality and Strings, Space and Time • Chris Hull Field Theory — Why Have Some Physicists Abandoned It? • Roman Jackiw Black Holes, Thermodynamics and Polymers • Ramzi Khuri Spying on Nature: How General Principles Lead to Physical Results • Andre Martin Probability & its Applications • Henry McKean Inflation: Conjectures vs. Facts • V. Mukhanov Variational Methods in Nonlinear Problems • Louis Nirenberg Homoclinic Bifurcations: From Poincare to Present Time • Jacob Palis Brane Charge Cohomology and Tension Lattices • Kelly Stelle Scaling Limits of Large Interacting Systems • S.R.S. Varadhan The Microscopic Origin of Black Hole Thermodynamics in String Theory • Spenta Wadia Organizing Committee List of Speakers List of Participants Photos This collection of papers features contributions by leading mathematicians and physicists in different directions, such as geometry, probability, variational problems, dynamical systems, mathematical economics, quantum field theory, string theory and cosmology.