Quantized complex curves play a central role in both topological string theory and Chern-Simons theory with complexified gauge group. In both cases these quantum curves yield operators that annihilate partition functions. However, in both cases, the actual quantization of these curves has only been understood indirectly (via matrix models on one hand, via recursion relations for the Jones polynomial on the other). I will discuss an intrinsic, geometric quantization scheme that should produce such quantum Riemann surfaces directly. N.B. Such quantum curves also show up in conformal field theory, as the operators that annihilate correlators with degenerate insertions.

Though defects in a general sense are ubiquitous and much-studied within statistical mechanics models it is only recently that they have been considered within integrable field theory. At first sight, defects could be considered disastrous since the property of integrability might be lost. However, it turns out that not only is it possible to have 'integrable defects' but they have a range of interesting properties and cast some new light on traditional features. Several examples will be described, together with their properties in classical and quantum versions of the models.

Condensed matter systems at quantum critical points can be described by strongly coupled field theories exhibiting anisotropic scale invariance. Lifshitz geometries been proposed to be holographic duals to these theories. I will discuss top down constructions of Lifshitz geometries in Type IIB and D=11 dimensional supergravities.

I will give an overview of recent developments in F-theory GUT model building. First I will discuss the basic ideas of F-theory model building, exemplifying this by the construction of supersymmetric SU(5) GUTs. Then I will outline how global string theoretic consistency requirements impact the SUSY phenomenology. The main focus of this talk will be on the phenomenological implications of these models.

I will review the matrix model which calculates the partition function of ABJM theory on S3 as well as the expectation value of Wilson loop operators. I will then explain how this matrix model is solved and present the results for these quantities at all values of the couplings. At strong coupling these calculations reproduce the results of supergravity on Ads4 x CP3 and in particular the N to the 3/2 scaling of the free energy of the theory.

We discuss relations between two a priori unrelated classes of objects: (i) W-algebras, which are certain symmetry algebras of two-dimensional conformal field theories, and (ii) four-dimensional N=2 gauge theories in the presence of surface operators (certain two-dimensional defects). In particular, we relate the classifications of W-algebras and surface operators.

Vertex operator algebra (VOA) is the algebraic setup formalising conformal field theory. It develops in a mathematically complete way the idea of constructing quantum field theory using the algebra of symmetry currents and their modules. On the other hand, conformal loop ensembles (CLE) are measures on random loop configurations that are known, in certain cases, to describe the continuous limit of statistical models at critical points. There is a one-parameter family of such measures, supposed to correspond to all central charges between 0 and 1. These two constructions enjoy complete mathematical rigour, and give the opportunity to understand with more precision the relation between the statistical interpretation of QFT, and its algebraic description. I will describe some of my recent works in this direction: I will explain how to construct the Virasoro VOA (the stress-energy tensor and its descendents) in terms of random objects in CLE. No prior knowledge of either VOA or CLE is needed as I will review both subjects.

Effective quiver gauge theories arising from a stack of D3-branes on certain Calabi-Yau singularities can be studied from many points of view. In this talk we adopt a first principle approach via open topological string theory, which means that we construct the natural A- infinity-structure of open string amplitudes in the associated D-brane category. This precisely reproduces the results of the method of brane tilings, without having to resort to any effective field theory computations. In particular, one obtains a general and simple formula for effective superpotentials.

In 2009 there has been progress in understanding and classifying the set of four dimensional field theories with N=2 SUSY. These models arise as M5 branes wrapped over a Riemann surface. We review this construction and describe a five dimensional point of view, using (p,q)-webs of 5branes in Type IIB string theory. This point of view makes many properties of the theories explicit. We will also touch on the AGT correspondence, that associates a 2-dimensional CFT, similar to the Liouville CFT, to the protected sector of four dimensional N=2 models.

We discuss the effect of vacuum polarization on the propagation of photons in curved spacetime in QED. A compact formula is presented for the full frequency dependence of the refractive index for any background in terms of the Van Vleck-Morette matrix for its Penrose limit. This shows explicitly how the superluminal propagation found in the low-energy effective action is reconciled with causality. The geometry of null geodesic congruences is found to imply a novel analytic structure for the refractive index and Green functions of QED in curved spacetime, which preserves their causal nature but violates familiar axioms of S-matrix theory and dispersion relations. The Kramers-Kronig dispersion relation and the optical theorem for QFT in curved spacetime are discussed critically. The significance of the Penrose limit for black hole spacetimes and their relation to homogeneous plane waves is explained and unexpected features of light propagation in a number of spacetimes are described.

We will discuss how by integrating out a global U(1)B gauge field, the U(n)xU(n) ABJM models at level k are equivalent to SU(n)xSU(n) N=6 Chern-Simons theories with a Zk identification on the fields and a modified flux quantisation condition, but only when n and k are relatively prime. As a consequence, the ABJM model for two M2-branes in R8 can be identified with the N=8 SU(2)xSU(2) theory at k=1. We will also argue that the original N=8 SO(4)-theory of Bagger and Lambert, without modified flux quantisation, is equivalent to the U(2)xU(2) ABJM model at k=2 and hence describes the IR fixed point of a maximally supersymmetric three-dimensional O(4) gauge theory obtained in M-theory by an R8/Z2 orbifold without torsion.

A complete intersection Calabi-Yau manifold Y, will be presented. This manifold that has Euler number -72 and admits free actions by two groups of automorphisms of order 12. These are the cyclic group Z12 and the non-Abelian dicyclic group Dic3. The quotient manifolds have chi=-6 and Hodge numbers (h11, h21) = (1,4). With the standard embedding of the spin connection in the gauge group, Y gives rise to an E6 gauge theory with 3 chiral generations of particles. The gauge group may be broken further by means of the Hosotani mechanism combined with continuous deformation of the background gauge field. For the non-Abelian quotient we obtain a model with 3 generations with the gauge group broken to that of the standard model. Moreover there is a limit in which the quotients develop 3 conifold points. These singularities may be resolved simultaneously to give another manifold with (h11, h21) = (2,2) that lies right at the tip of the distribution of Calabi-Yau manifolds. This strongly suggests that there is a heterotic vacuum for this manifold that derives from the 3 generation model on the quotient of Y. The manifold Y may also be realised as a hypersurface in the toric variety. The symmetry group does not act torically, nevertheless we are able to identify the mirror of the quotient manifold by adapting the construction of Batyrev.

After a quick review of transplanckian-energy string collisions I will focus on a recent S-matrix approach to gravitational scattering and on its surprisingly good consistency with known results in classical gravitational collapse. A number of yet unresolved issues will also be presented.

An introductory review of the foundations of the Attractor Mechanism in extremal black holes in d=4 supergravity theories will be given. The issues of the classification of black hole attractors, of their stability and of the definition of an effective potential in the scalar manifold will be addressed. Finally, some recent developments will be shortly considered, such as the charge orbits and the moduli spaces of attractor solutions in N=2 and extended supergravities, and the generalization of the Attractor Mechanism to intersecting configurations of black branes in higher dimensions.

A large family of interacting conformal field theories in four dimensions with N=2 supersymmetry was recently constructed by Gaiotto. Each gauge theory is associated to a Riemann surface with certain allowed singularities. In fact, it was proposed by Alday, Gaiotto and Tachikawa that the partition function of these theories (based on SU(2) gauge groups) is equal to correlation function in Liouville theory with central charge c=25. After reviewing these constructions I will turn to a detailed exploration of S-duality using loop operators: Wilson, 't Hooft and dyonic. I will explain the classification and evaluation of arbitrary loops in arbitrary theories and show how they transform into each-other under S-duality.