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ECRYPT Autumn School on Zero Knowledge, Bertinoro (Italy), Oct/Nov 2006

ECRYPT Autumn School on Zero Knowledge: Foundations and Applications
October 28 - November 3, 2006
Bertinoro (Forli'), Italy
http://zk.dia.unisa.it

The fascinating concept of a Zero-Knowledge proof has been introduced by
Goldwasser, Micali and Rackoff (1985). Zero-knowledge proofs are both
convincing and yet yield nothing beyond the validity of the assertion
being proved. Their applicability in the domain of cryptography is vast:
they can be used to force malicious parties to behave according to a
predetermined protocol and they found applications in the constructions of
secure cryptosystems and digital signature schemes.

The purpose of this school is to give PhD students and others with a
general interest in cryptography a deeper understanding of the notion of
zero knowledge and of its use in cryptography.

The course is organized by the ECRYPT Network of Excellence, supported by
the European Commission. The program is targeted at graduate and
post-graduate level participants as well as researchers and professionals
interested in these fields.


Main subjects covered:

* Background:
one-way functions/permutations, trapdoor functions/permutations,
indistinguishability, PRG, hard-core bits, commitments.

* Basic Zero Knowledge I:
interactive proofs, definitions (auxiliary input ZK, CZK, SZK, PZK),
arguments vs. proofs, black box vs. non-black box, honest verifier ZK,
need for randomness and interactions.

* Basic Zero Knowledge II:
ZK for NP, proof of knowledge, witness indistinguishability.

* Round complexity:
sequential composition for auxiliary input and non-auxiliary input,
constant round ZK, lower bound on number of rounds.

* Non-Black Box Zero Knowledge:
universal arguments, FLS-paradigm, Barak's construction.

* Non-Interactive ZK:
NIZK for all NP, NIZK proof of knowledge, ZAP.

* Advanced topics:
stronger notions of ZK.

* Applications of NIZK:
secure encryption.


Lecturers:

Jonathan Katz        University of Maryland (USA)
Yehuda Lindell       Bar-Ilan University (ISRAEL)
Giuseppe Persiano    University of Salerno (ITALY)


Organization:

School Director:    Giuseppe Persiano, University of Salerno
Local Organization: Eleonora Campori, Centro Congressi di Bertinoro
Organizers:         Giuseppe Persiano, Ivan Visconti, U. of Salerno


Registration:

As the number of participants is limited, an expression of interest
comprising a short CV and a letter of purpose is required. A limited
number of scholarships (covering registration and accommodation) are
offered to students from non-ECRYPT institutions.

More information (including fees and application procedure) can be found
at the school website: http://zk.dia.unisa.it.

We apologize if you receive multiple copies of this announcement.