The main theme of the chair is to explore the relationships between Real algebraic Geometry and Birational Geometry. The specific projects are rationality, Cremona groups and K-stability of Fano varieties. We plan to focus our thematic on Fano manifolds which are among the varieties with the richest birational geometry. The ambition and objectives of the project are triple: get into the real aspects of the birational geometry of Fano manifolds by bringing together experts of different areas of algebraic geometry: real algebraic geometers, K-stability specialists, Gremona specialists, rationality questions specialists to get synergy, aims to explore recent developments in K-stability theory and study of Cremona groups in particular in their real settings.

Ivan is Professor at the University of Edinburgh, and his research interests include birational geometry and K-stability of Fano varieties. He is author of 3 books and more than 100 papers on these subjects. Ivan has co-organized successful research meetings in Auckland, Beijing, Cambridge, Durham (2012 Durham Symposium), Edinburgh (2 workshops at the International Center of Mathematical Sicneces, and 10 annual Edge Days conferences 2013–2022), Fuerteventura, Levico Terme, London, Magadan, Moscow (2 conferences at Higher School of Economics), New York (3 conferences at the Simons Foundation), Oberwolfach (workshop at MFO on subgroups of Cremona groups), Pohang, Rapa Nui, Shanghai, Sochi, Spitsbergen, Stony Brook (2 conferences at the Simons Center), Tianjin (workshop at Chern Institute) and Vladivostok. Ivan co-edited 9 conference proceedings, which have been published at the Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, European Journal of Mathematics, Bulletin of the Korean Mathematical Society, European Mathematical Society Surveys in Mathematical Sciences, Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics. Ivan is a very collaborative mathematician who have more than 25 co-authors so far.

Frédéric is Professor at Aix-Marseille University, and his research interests include real algebraic geometry and birational geometry, in particular the study of the Cremona group over the reals. He is author of 2 books (from which one is becoming a reference in the domain) and more than 30 papers. Frédéric has co-organized a dozen of international meetings and co-edited 2 conference proceedings. He was head of Mathematical research department in Angers (LAREMA) for 4 years. He has advised 3 PhD students who have all permanent positions, two in public universities, and one in private business. He is a very collaborative mathematician who have more than 25 co-authors so far.