Summer School

Central Simple Algebras over Function Fields of Surfaces

Universität Konstanz

26 August - 1 September 2007

[ Speakers and Courses | Schedule | Getting to Konstanz | Getting around | Meals | Sights and Activities | Contacts ]

In 2002, Johan de Jong proved the equality of period and index for central simple algebras over function fields of complex algebraic surfaces.
The summer school will present this ground-breaking result together with its proof.
Leading experts from the field will explain the underlying methods from algebraic geometry and the general mathematical context to an audience of young researchers.
There will be a total of five lecture series, which will be complemented by a number of tutorials and additional talks.
Free lodging in holiday flats and further financial support are availabe to a limited number of young researchers at pre- and postdoc level. All senior researchers are equally welcome to participate. There will be a registration fee of 50 euros.

The summer school is organised by Karim Johannes Becher (Universität Konstanz) and Daniel Plaumann (Universität Konstanz).
It is supported by the Center for Junior Research Fellows of the University of Konstanz.
To announce your participation and for any related questions please contact us.


Speakers



Schedule

Please note that courses will start on Monday, 27 August, in the morning and end on Saturday, 1 September, at noon. Thursday afternoon is free. Click here for a detailed programme.

Getting to Konstanz

By train: The webpage of the Deutsche Bahn has an online timetable that also works for connections from abroad.

From Zürich Airport: Train service to Konstanz is excellent, including one direct train per hour. You can check the above website of the Deutsche Bahn or print the following list of all connections between 8am and 10pm on Sunday 26 August .
For the trip back, here are all return connections between 7am and 8pm on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September.

From Friedrichshafen Airport: There are several more or less equivalent possibilities: 1) by train via Radolfzell 2) by Catamaran 3) by ferry via Meersburg. Check this pdf for some examples and use the online timetable to find your exact connection. Be careful to give the correct date since connections are much reduced on Sundays.

By car: One of many road guides is Mappy. It can also be used to produce a street map of Konstanz. Note that free parking can be hard to find in Konstanz.

Getting around in Konstanz

For maps and directions to the apartments and from there to the university, click the link below:
All participants who this concerns have been notified by email in which apartment they are staying. If you have not received such an email and you think you should have, please notify us immediately.

Here is a map of the university campus:


Lectures will take place in M629. From the bus stop, head on past the L building, up the stairs in front of the P building, then take a right to the M building. The lecture hall is right by the entrance.

Meals, Restaurants and Pubs

Lunch will be served in the university with a choice between a vegetarian and a non-vegetarian menu. There will be a Conference Dinner for all participants on Wednesday night, 7:30 pm. Dinner on the other evenings is not provided, but the apartments have a kitchen, and shops as well as many affordable restaurants and pubs serving food are within walking distance. Click here for a list of suggestions.

Sights and Activities

You can find general tourist information about Konstanz here: Stadt Konstanz

Sights worth a visit in the evening after the courses are for example:
The Garden Island of Mainau is just a short walk (about 20 minutes) away from the university. Much more pleasant in the evening than in the daytime. If you book a table at the Restaurant "Schwedenschenke", you do not have to pay the entrance fee.
If you have a little more time to spare, visit Meersburg, a small town with a picturesque old town center. Take bus number 1 from town center to Staad ferry terminal. Ferries to Meersburg are very frequent, even at late hours.

If the weather forecast for the week is favourable (this summer has been most unpredictable so far), you should definitely bring bathing clothes. The "university beach" is only 10 minutes away! (weather forecast, german)

Thursday afternoon will be free. We suggest an excursion to the Monastery Island of Reichenau (UNESCO world heritage site).

Here are some more suggestions for extended excursions if you have some time before or after the summer school:
Zrich is worth a visit, of course. Winterthur is another nearby Swiss town with great cultural offerings. Quite close but a bit more tricky to reach is the Napoleonmuseum (French link). The Rhinefalls at Schaffhausen are also nearby (about one hour on the train). Here is a page with some recommendations for excursions.

Contacts

Andrea Barjasic (Secretary):


Page maintained by Karim Johannes Becher (becher@maths.ucd.ie), Daniel Plaumann, Matthias Schork, and Rainer Sinn.