Nowadays, we can exploit samples of observed galaxies that are unique in completeness and provide a description of the internal properties of galaxies with unprecedented detail. Spectroscopic surveys combined with multiwavelength imaging from the UV to the far-IR using ground-based telescopes have recently been completed (e.g. SDSS and GAMA) and surveys with spatially resolved spectroscopy are currently ongoing (e.g. CALIFA and SAMI). At the same time, cosmological hydrodynamical simulations such as Illustris and EAGLE, are, for the first time, reproducing statistical properties of observed galaxies. Moreover, realistic galaxy mock catalogues employed in the design of future surveys such as DESI, are currently being generated with state-of-the-art semi-analytical models.

During this Symposia we propose to discuss two aspects of galaxy evolution that, although fundamental, are poorly constrained observationally and thus are difficult to model and understand theoretically:

i) Gas cooling and star formation.

How can we improve the modelling of the gas cooling by taking into account different observations, including those probing with X-rays the gas in haloes and imaging the circum-galactic medium? Is it reasonable to assume a universal star formation law? What kind of observations do we need to better understand these aspects theoretically?

ii) Quenching of star formation in massive haloes.

Galaxy formation is an inefficient process, but how exactly the ISM heating by SMBH does contribute to quenching the ongoing star formation in galaxies? In massive haloes, the star formation can be further affected by environmental effects. Is the removal of the diffuse halo gas of satellite galaxies relevant in all environments? What about the removal of their ISM by stripping?

Programme

• Gas cooling.
• Star formation.
• AGN feedback and its connection to the star formaion quenching.
• Enviromental effects affecting the star formation in galaxies.

Invited speakers
This is the preliminary list of invited speakers:

• J. Schaye (Leiden): Review talk on the challenges that models of galaxies face.
• P. Monaco (Trieste): Review talk on the modelling of gas cooling confronted to observations.
• C. Lagos (ESO): Review talk on modelling the star formation.
• Y. Dubois (Paris): Review talk on the modelling of the AGN feedback and its connection to the star formaion quenching.
• M. Hirschmann(Trieste): Review talk on environmental effects affecting the star formation in observed and model galaxies.

Scientific organisers
V. Gonzalez-Perez (Durham), V. Wild (St. Andrews), C. Lagos (ESO), R. Bower (Durham), C. Dalla Vecchia (La Laguna), A. Knebe (Madrid)

Contact
violeta.gonzalez @ durham.ac.uk