Parallel sessions

The variety in present day galaxy shapes, colours, sizes and features bears witness to the multitude of processes that shape galaxy evolution throughout cosmic history. From turbulence and supernovae to magnetic fields and feedback from supermassive black holes, the galactic gas supply is influenced by many, often violent, events throughout a galaxy's history. At the same time, galaxies appear to evolve primarily along tight scaling relations involving stellar and gas mass, size, star formation rate, and dynamical support, suggesting a complex interplay of the above processes. Over the last decades, we have been using both simulations and observations to understand these processes and have gained key insights into their impact on galaxy evolution. However, from both an observational and theoretical point of view, the picture is far from complete, and communication between the two communities can be impeded since the properties of galaxies accessible via observations cannot be straight-forwardly studied in simulations, and vice versa, but direct exchange is lacking as well. To make progress, we need to foster communication between simulators and observers, to build a unified understanding of the key drivers of galaxy evolution across cosmic time. In this session, we will bring together both simulators and observers working on processes that influence the galactic gas supply and drive galaxy evolution across cosmic time. This session will be an ideal opportunity to highlight recent state-of-the-art development in the different sub-disciplines that address galaxy evolution, as well as to ask open questions to the wider community in order to guide future research in the field. We will particularly focus on direct exchange between simulators and observers, to identify which information is required in both areas of research to make progress. It is a key goal of this session to establish communication channels between observational and theoretical researchers, for increased exchange and collaboration on open questions in the field of galaxy evolution.