The aim of this highly interdisciplinary Seminar is to discuss possible causes and mechanisms leading to the formation of extreme events, contemporary methods of their statistical and theoretical analysis as well as novel methods for their prediction. As regards theoretical approaches, the focus will be on cutting-edge methods from nonlinear dynamics, network theory, data analysis, and large deviation theory. We will bring together scientists from a large variety of disciplines, in which extreme events become increasingly important: climate science, earth system science including ecology, as well as neuroscience and human health. Furthermore, we will discuss experiments from laser physics, combustion, and ecology which are designed to help understanding generation and termination of extreme events.