This volume covers many topics, including number theory, Boolean functions, combinatorial geometry, and algorithms over finite fields. It contains many new, theoretical and applicable results, as well as surveys that were presented by the top specialists in these areas. New results include an answer to one of Serre's questions, posted in a letter to Top; cryptographic applications of the discrete logarithm problem related to elliptic curves and hyperelliptic curves; construction of function field towers; construction of new classes of Boolean cryptographic functions; and algorithmic applications of algebraic geometry.