The Summer Graduate Workshop will be held in the Passerini Palace (XVI Century) which belongs to the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa

Scientific Committee: David Cox (Amherst College) Hal Schenck (University of Illinois) Organizing Committee: Giorgio Patrizio (Università di Firenze) Sandro Verra (Università di Roma Tre)

INdAM (Istituto Nazionale di Alta Matematica), MSRI (Mathematical Science Research Institute) and SMI (Scuola Matematica Interuniversitaria) will sponsor a summer graduate workshop (SGW) on toric varieties in Cortona during summer of 2011; the workshop will reprise the very successful SGW on toric varieties held at MSRI in 2009.

Toric varieties are algebraic varieties defined by combinatorial data, and there is a wonderful interplay between algebra, combinatorics and geometry involved in their study. Many of the key concepts of abstract algebraic geometry (for example, constructing a variety by glueing affine pieces) have very concrete interpretations in the toric case, making toric varieties an ideal tool for introducing students to hard to understand concepts.

• Participation: by invitation only. In order to be invited one should apply by filling the application form.
• The deadline for application is April 30, 2011.
• Participants are expected to have a knowledge of algebraic geometry equivalent to the first two chapters of Hartshorne's "Algebraic Geometry".
• Invited participants will be granted full support for accomodation and board in Cortona.
• Travel information (available soon).