Birational Geometry and localisation

Abstract: This talk will focus on the study of birational geometry via localisation of categories as a prelude to the study of birational motives. We shall outline various categorical constructions and prove that the notion of R-equivalence introduced by Manin is in a certain sense universal for the property of being a stable birational invariant.

Refreshments will be served at 2:45 p.m. in the PIMS 1st floor lounge.