Speaker: Nuno Santos (University of Porto)
Title: Studying the stars, knowing the planets

Abstract:
The radial velocity and transit photometry methods are discovering and characterizing an increasing number of planets orbiting other suns. For a full understanding of the systems, however, a comprehensive study of their host stars is fundamental. In this talk I will review how relevant is stellar characterization in this context. In particular, I will focus on how stellar chemistry is providing unique information about the processes of planet formation, evolution, and composition.