Think Global, Act Local: Insights into the Evolution of Galaxies

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The project aims to answer some of the most important questions in astrophysics about galaxy evolution. The evolution of galaxies is controlled by the competing effects of star formation and feedback. The rate at which a galaxy forms stars appears to be largely controlled by how quickly gas converts from diffuse atomic state to molecular, which is affected by the amount of metals in the gas and the strength of interstellar radiation fields. This project plans to probe the conversion of atomic to molecular gas within disparate environments. The project will use three local laboratories: our Milky Way, and the nearby Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, to understand the gas processes that lead to star formation and how these affect galaxy evolution throughout the Universe.