The collective properties of the currently known ~ 4000 extrasolar planets have left no doubt that planetary systems come in a variety of sizes and orbital configurations. These diverse characteristics of planetary systems, combined with new observational data of our solar system, have raised many questions on the processes involved in the formation of planetary bodies and their dynamical evolution. This programme will bring together experts with complementary expertise in observation, theory, solar system and extrasolar planets to assess the current status of planet formation models, highlight problems in each formation stage, and explore the possibility of developing comprehensive models that can be applied to different planetary systems.
The questions to be addressed will include: