Ivy Wong (CSIRO/CASS, Kensington)

Ivy Wong Colloquium: The rise and fall of star formation in galaxies

Remotely Hosted

Abstract

How galaxies form and evolve is a key science question to be addressed in the upcoming decade. A central area of research within galaxy evolution revolves around how galaxies start forming stars, how star formation is regulated and how the growth of central black holes (Active Galactic Nuclei) affect the star formation of a galaxy. Specifically I study the physical processes that affect the star formation history of nearby galaxies through observations of atomic Hydrogen (HI). HI provides the initial fuel from which stars can form and due to its diffused nature, is an excellent tracer of the internal and external physical processes that are currently impacting on the evolution of a galaxy. As we strive to map the Universe further, deeper and at greater resolution, we are now entering a new era of massive survey datasets that require the investigation of new methods of analysis. In this colloquium, I will describe some of the science questions that is currently keeping me up at night, in addition to some of my investigations into alternative methods such as citizen science and the application of machine learning towards maximising the science outcomes from the upcoming ASKAP all-sky surveys such as EMU and WALLABY.