Francqui VUB-Leerstoel 2025-2026

Prof. István Heckenberger

István Heckenberger is a distinguished German mathematician who specializes in Hopf algebras, Nichols algebras, quantum groups, and related algebraic structures. He is currently a Full Professor at Philipps University of Marburg in Germany. Heckenberger has made seminal contributions to several areas of modern algebra, including differential calculi on quantum groups and quantum spaces, the theory of Nichols algebras, Weyl groupoids, and arithmetic root systems. He is also the coauthor, with Hans-Jürgen Schneider, of the comprehensive book Hopf Algebras and Root Systems.

Inaugural lecture

On some beautiful children of abstract algebra
Thursday, Feb 12, 15:00. Room G.6.52.

Abstract: From time to time, abstract algebraic structures like Nichols algebras produce during their studies interesting, rather elementary but non-trivial mathematical structures. In the lecture I will demonstrate two of such structures, frieze patterns of integers and the hyperplane geometry of Weyl groupoids.

Registration for the Inaugural Lecture is free but mandatory: here.

Course

Nichols algebras and root systems

Abstract: Today the theory of Nichols algebras looks back to a rapid development, which started already in the 20th century. In the course I will explain in detail the basic structures and some powerful combinatorial tools to study these abstract algebraic objects. Some classification results will be discussed. As a prerequisite I will assume the knowledge of tensor products and very basic categorical and non-commutative algebraic structures.

Poster

Click here.

Organizer:

• Leandro Vendramin
• The chair is sponsored by the Francqui Foundation.

Heckenberger’s picture is taken from the Archives of the Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach.