Linking the Galactic and Extragalactic: stellar dynamics and stellar populations of the Milky Way and its siblings

n this conference we aim to link Galactic and Extragalactic research, both of which bring unique perspectives to understanding how disk galaxies formed. The recent wealth of detailed Milky Way measurements from GALAH, APOGEE, LAMOST, and Gaia, combined with results from spatially resolved spectroscopic surveys such as SAMI, MaNGA, and with VLT­-MUSE, make this the ideal time to link Galactic and extragalactic research. Crucial in this discussion are the recent results from large cosmological and Milky Way zoom in simulations that shows that the Galaxy might not be the ideal template for understanding disk formation as previously thought.