Break-Game-Set: Settling the long-standing debate on the disk evolution mechanisms and their impact on planet formation

Scientific Rationale

Exoplanets display a stunning diversity of physical and chemical properties believed to arise as a consequence of their formation. Planets are assembled
from the gas and dust in discs around young stars. It is widely accepted that the availability of such building blocks depends on how discs evolve and disperse. However, the
mechanisms governing these processes remain theoretically debated and observationally still unconstrained. In this workshop, we plan to review the state of the art of disc evolution and dispersal studies, discuss key open questions, and establish clear future directions to advance our understanding of their impact on planet formation.

Topics of interest:
1) disc evolution and dispersal,
2) disc demographic studies at all wavelengths (from UV and optical, to millimeter, and radio),
3) observational constraints on key evolution diagnostics (e.g., disc masses, sizes, mass accretion and loss rates),
4) dust and gas population synthesis models,
5) observations and models of disc winds,
6) interactions with the environment (multiplicity, external photoevaporation, fly-bys, late infall).

The participation of junior scientists is particularly encouraged and will be supported upon request and within the available budget by contributing to their conference fee and accommodation costs.

Important dates

July 2026: call for abstracts opens.
8 September 2026: deadline for abstract submission.
October/November 2026: outcome of abstract selection is communicated/deadline for requesting travel/accommodation support.

Abstract submission is open (click here!)

Confirmed invited speakers
Anna Miotello (European Southern Observatory, Garching bei München)
Alice Somigliana (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg)
Benoît Tabone (Université Paris-Saclay)
Andrew Sellek (Leiden Observatory)
Megan Reiter (Rice University)
Jane Huang (Columbia University)
Caeley Pittman (Boston University)
Yuhiko Aoyama (Sun Yat-sen University)

Organizers

SOC

Francesco Zagaria (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg)
Carlo F. Manara (European Southern Observatory, Garching bei München)
Giovanni Rosotti (Università di Milano)
Matthew Birney (European Southern Observatory, Garching bei München)
Feng Long (Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Peking University, Beijing)
Cathie Clarke (Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge)
Emma Whelan (Maynooth University)
Juan Manuel Alcalá (INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples)
Barbara Ercolano (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München)

LOC
Francesco Zagaria (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg)
Carlo F. Manara (European Southern Observatory, Garching bei München)
Giovanni Rosotti (Università di Milano)
Matthew Birney (European Southern Observatory, Garching bei München)
Gabriella Deconi (Sexten)
Lorenzo Malanga (Università di Milano)

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