From December 8th to 12th, 2025, the 2025 International Conference on Exoplanets and Planet Formation (EPF), organized by the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute (TDLI) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, was held in Shanghai. Attendees came from 23 countries and regions, representing leading global institutions such as Princeton University, MIT, Yale University, Caltech, UC Berkeley, Columbia University, Cambridge University, Oxford University, King’s College London, the University of Toronto, the University of Tokyo, the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, the Paris Observatory, the Nice Observatory, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Nanjing University, among other top-tier domestic and international universities and research institutes. The total number of participants exceeded 300, with approximately 60% coming from overseas, making it one of the foremost international gatherings in exoplanetary science.
The conference was co-chaired by Professor Dong Lai (Head of Astronomy Division at TDLI), Professor Josh Winn from Princeton University, and Professor Yanqin Wu from the University of Toronto. Its scientific committee consisted of 28 renowned scholars from China and abroad. The conference agenda featured 145 invited and oral presentations, alongside a poster session with 170 contributors. Additional activities, including a tour of the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, provided valuable opportunities for in-depth dialogue between early-career scholars and senior experts. The conference concluded with a summary speech delivered by Professor Eugene Chiang from the University of California, Berkeley.
The program encompassed the major areas of exoplanet science, from discovery through characterization and theory. Key topics included:
Exoplanet Detection and Statistical Studies
The conference reviewed the latest advances in exoplanet detection, with particular emphasis on the central role of the Gaia astrometry mission in planet discovery and the precise determination of orbital parameters. Presentations showcased the unique advantages of Gaia data in revealing intermediate- to long-period planets, probing the planet-brown dwarf transition region, and understanding the architecture of multi-planet systems, as well as its synergistic application with methods like radial velocity, transit, and direct imaging. Statistical studies based on large-scale survey data like Gaia's have significantly enhanced the understanding of planetary population distributions and formation mechanisms, providing key constraints for building unified planetary population models.
Planet-forming Environments: Protoplanetary Disks and Stellar Systems
Discussions addressed the structural, dynamical, and chemical evolution processes of protoplanetary disks. High-resolution millimeter/submillimeter observations, such as those from ALMA, have revealed fine-scale features of disk substructures like rings, gaps, and spiral arms, leading to in-depth exploration of their connections to planet formation and migration. Presentations also focused on disk evolution characteristics around different stellar types and within multiple-star systems, further expanding the physical landscape of research into planet-forming environments.
Planet Types and Atmospheric Properties
The conference presented the latest achievements in exoplanet atmospheric research, covering various types including rocky planets, sub-Neptunes, and gas giants. Leveraging the powerful observational capabilities of the JWST and ground-based high-resolution spectrometers, multiple reports detailed refined characterization of atmospheric composition, thermal structure, and chemical and dynamical processes. These were connected to ALMA studies of gas and dust chemistry in planet-forming regions, establishing links from protoplanetary disks to planetary atmospheres. These results have significantly advanced theories of planet formation and evolution and provided important observational basis for planetary habitability research.
Planetary System Dynamics and Long-term Evolution
The conference engaged in in-depth discussions on key processes such as orbital resonances, planetary migration, gravitational scattering, and tidal evolution. Several studies, combining observational data with theoretical models, revealed possible pathways for the formation and evolution of diverse planetary system architectures. Comparative analysis between exoplanetary systems and our Solar System has provided new theoretical frameworks and observational constraints for understanding the diversity and long-term stability of planetary systems.
Planet Formation Theory and Future Observational Prospects
The conference summarized the latest progress in planet formation and evolution theories and specifically looked ahead to the development prospects of key future space projects. Reports introduced the unique advantages of the PLATO mission in planetary statistics and precise stellar parameter measurement, the important role of the Roman Space Telescope in microlensing and exoplanet census surveys, and the scientific objectives of China's proposed Earth 2.0 (ET) mission in the search for terrestrial planets and the study of habitable zone planets. These future projects will complement existing observational facilities, propelling exoplanet research into a new stage of development.
This conference was the second installment following the inaugural meeting in 2017. It brought together an international community working on the origins, architectures, and evolution of planetary systems, and it strengthened scientific exchange and collaboration across institutions. Discussions covered a broad range of topics, including detection techniques, formation theory, dynamics, and atmospheric characterization, with strong participation from early-career researchers. Participants expressed interest in seeing the meeting continue on a regular basis as an open, high-level forum for the planetary science community.
Source: SJTU TDLI
Editor on Duty: Yan Cheng