Stefano Facchini, Professor of Astrophysics, University of Milan, Italy; Ewine van Dishoeck, Professor of Molecular Astrophysics at Leiden Observatory, Netherlands. Introduced by Marco Bersanelli, Professor of Astrophysics, University of Milan, Italy

One of the most fascinating areas of contemporary astrophysics is understanding how the laws of nature and the physical and chemical conditions of the universe have led to the formation of the Earth, the solar system, and the countless planetary systems around distant stars. Thanks to new instruments from both the ground and space, we are now able to directly observe the birth of new planets and gather detailed information about the surprising variety and richness that characterize planetary systems outside our solar system. Guided by two of the leading figures in the field at an international level, we will be introduced to some recent discoveries, thanks to which we are beginning to understand the process of the birth and evolution of planets, thereby also broadening our perspective on the origins of the planet we inhabit.