This is the first of a new series of conferences on High Energy Physics to be held at the ICTP on Trieste. The aim of the present Conference is to cover various aspects of physics in 2+1 dimensions, especially (super)membrane theories, and to provide a platform for a discussion of the up-to-date status of the field. There will also be introductory lectures which should be useful, especially to those who wish to begin research in this subject.

This is the first of a new series of conferences on High Energy Physics to be held at the ICTP on Trieste. The aim of the present Conference is to cover various aspects of physics in 2+1 dimensions, especially (super)membrane theories, and to provide a platform for a discussion of the up-to-date status of the field. There will also be introductory lectures which should be useful, especially to those who wish to begin research in this subject.