Discrete Mathematics and Symmetry

SYMMETRY AND GEOMETRY. One of the core concepts essential to understanding natural phenomena and the dynamics of social systems is the concept of “relation”. Furthermore, scientists rely on relational structures with high levels of symmetry because of their optimal behavior and highperformance. Humanfriendships, socialandinterconnectionnetworks, trafficsystems, chemical structures, etc., can beexpressed asrelational structures. A mathematical model capturing the essence of this situation is a combinatorial object exhibiting a high level of symmetry, and the underlying mathematical discipline is algebraic combinatorics—the most vivid expression of the concept of symmetry in discrete mathematics.
The purpose of this Special Issue of the journal Symmetry is to present some recent developments as well as possible future directions in algebraic combinatorics. Special emphasis is given to the concept of symmetry in graphs, finite geometries, and designs. Of interest are solutions of long-standing open problems in algebraic combinatorics, as well as contributions opening up new research topics encompassing symmetry within the boundaries of discrete mathematics but with the possibility of transcending these boundaries. Prof. Dr. Angel Garrido, Guest Editor.