Studying the relationship between the star formation rate and the gas density is of crucial importance in astrophysics. Theoretical modelling of star formation is in fact an essential ingredient for understanding the Cosmos since the evolution of galaxies is regulated by their ability to turn the gas into stars. In 2009 is the 50th anniversary of the publication of the paper ``The Rate of Star Formation'' by Maarten Schmidt. In this paper, M. Schmidt introduced the concept of the star formation rate (SFR) in galaxies which has stimulated a lasting observational and theoretical effort to understand how galaxy properties can regulate the physics of star formation and the rate of stellar birth. The focus of the original Schmidt paper was on the SFR history in the solar neighborhood, but he author foresees the importance of SFR studies in the frame of galaxy evolution.

The aim of this International Conference is to gather the astronomical community to discuss the state of the art of these topics from the early Universe to the Milky Way. Maarten Schmidt has embraced the idea with enthusiasm will be the Conference honoured guest.

In the last decade multiwavelengths observations have provided excellent datasets to trace the rate of star formation and the gas conditions in nearby galaxies with high sensitivity and spatial resolution. In our local Universe there is a clear relation between the star formation rate and the gas column density but it is still an open question whether is the neutral gas, the molecular component or the densest molecular phase that relates to the SFR, which is the power law index of this relation and whether the answer depends on the SF tracer, spatial scale or on other galaxy host properties.

On the theoretical side the Schmidt power law index is expected to vary with according to the process that regulates star formation: is the free-fall time in molecular clouds, or is the process of cloud formation through gravitational instability or collisional processes which set the Schmidt power law index? On the other hand we know that magnetic fields and turbulence are important for regulating star formation in giant molecular clouds: what is their impact on the SFR and efficiency?

Imaging galaxies and measuring their dynamic properties at earlier cosmic epochs has recently become possible. It is therefore of interest to establish what regulates the SF during the process of galaxy formation, whether accretion drives the SF instead of preexisting gas conditions. Direct measurement of the molecular and atomic gas emission in high redshift systems is still a challange and one of our aim is to link theoretical predictions of molecules formation during galaxy evolution to single gas phase observed: HI in absorption through Damped Lyman Alpha systems or molecular tracers. The applicability of a Schmidt law at early times is of great concern and will discussed in a variety of systems, such as Lyman Break Galaxies, hosts of GRBs, Damped Ly-a absorbers.

The Scientific Programme will focus on the following topics:

Discrepancies and concordances with the Schmidt law at early cosmic times