This volume presents contributions by leading experts in the field. The articles are dedicated to D.B. Fuchs on the occasion of his 60th birthday. Contributors to the book were directly influenced by Professor Fuchs and include his students, friends, and professional colleagues. In addition to their research, they offer personal reminicences about Professor Fuchs, giving insight into the history of Russian mathematics. The main topics addressed in this unique work are infinite-dimensional Lie algebras with applications (vertex operator algebras, conformal field theory, quantum integrable systems, etc.) and differential topology. The volume provides an excellent introduction to current research in the field.