The MICAST research program focuses on a systematic analysis of the effect of convection on the microstructure evolution in cast Al-alloys. The experiments of the MICAST team are carried out under well defined thermally and magnetically controlled, convective boundary conditions and analyzed using advanced diagnostics and theoretical modeling, involving phase field simulation, micro-modeling and global simulation of heat and mass transport. The MICAST team uses binary, ternary and technical alloys of the At-Si family. This paper gives an overview on recent experimental results and theoretical modelling of the MICAST team.