This volume is a unique and comprehensive collection of works by some of the world's leading researchers. Papers on algebraic geometry, algebraic groups, and Lie groups are woven together to form a connection between the study of symmetry and certain algebraic structures. This connection reflects the interests of R. W. Richardson who studied the links between representation theory and the structure and geometry of algebraic groups. In particular, the papers address Kazhdan-Lusztig theory, quantum groups, spherical varieties, symmetric varieties, cohomology of varieties, purity, Schubert...