If you like proving results in algebraic geometry without using any algebraic geometry, tropical curves (+ higher-dimensional versions) are the perfect tool! We will define what we mean by a tropical curve (embedded and non-embedded), give some ideas about where this comes from in relation to algebraic curves, and discuss some applications / analogues of classical alg. geometric results: Bezout's theorem, Plucker's formula, etc. Speaker(s): Harry Richman (University of Michigan)