This is the proceedings of an international conference on knot theory held in July 1996 at Waseda University Conference Center. It was organised by the International Research Institute of Mathematical Society of Japan. The conference was attended by nearly 180 mathematicians from Japan and 14 other countries. Most of them were specialists in knot theory. The volume contains 43 papers, which deal with significant current research in knot theory, low-dimensional topology and related topics.The volume includes papers by the following invited speakers: G Burde, R Fenn, L H Kauffman, J Levine, J M Montesinos(-A), H R Morton, K Murasugi, T Soma, and D W Sumners.

The present volume grew out of the Heidelberg Knot Theory Semester, organized by the editors in winter 2008/09 at Heidelberg University. The contributed papers bring the reader up to date on the currently most actively pursued areas of mathematical knot theory and its applications in mathematical physics and cell biology. Both original research and survey articles are presented; numerous illustrations support the text. The book will be of great interest to researchers in topology, geometry, and mathematical physics, graduate students specializing in knot theory, and cell biologists interested in the topology of DNA strands.

This volume consists of ten lectures given at an international workshop/conference on knot theory held in July 1996 at Waseda University Conference Center. It was organised by the International Research Institute of Mathematical Society of Japan. The workshop was attended by nearly 170 mathematicians from Japan and 14 other countries, most of whom were specialists in knot theory. The lectures can serve as an introduction to the field for advanced undergraduates, graduates and also researchers working in areas such as theoretical physics.

This volume consists of ten lectures given at an international workshop/conference on knot theory held in July 1996 at Waseda University Conference Center. It was organised by the International Research Institute of Mathematical Society of Japan. The workshop was attended by nearly 170 mathematicians from Japan and 14 other countries, most of whom were specialists in knot theory. The lectures can serve as an introduction to the field for advanced undergraduates, graduates and also researchers working in areas such as theoretical physics.