Lectures on dualities ABC in representation theory

Abstract: In these lecture notes for a summer mini-course, we provide an exposition on quantum groups and Hecke algebras, including (quasi) R-matrix, canonical basis, and $q$-Schur duality. Then we formulate their counterparts in the setting of $\imath$quantum groups arising from quantum symmetric pairs, including (quasi) K-matrix, $\imath$-canonical basis, and $\imath$Schur duality. As an application, the ($\imath$-)canonical bases are used to formulate Kazhdan-Lusztig theories and character formulas in the BGG categories for Lie (super)algebras of type A-D. Finally, geometric constructions for $q$-Schur and $\imath$Schur dualities are provided.