The main topics of the conference are:

• RR Lyrae variables, Population II Cepheids, and related objects
• Yellow and red pulsating variables in the halo
• Cataclysmic variables and X-ray sources in the halo and globular clusters
• Variable stars and stellar streams in the halo
• Dynamics of globular star clusters
• Origin, structure, and evolution of globular-cluster systems
• Old populations of the Galaxy
• The halo and disk variable stars as standard candles
• Search for new star clusters in the Galaxy
• Variable stars in the halos of other galaxies
• Galactic halo variable populations compared to those in Local Group dwarf galaxies