• One of the most important processes for galaxy formation and evolution ! • Big questions! – When and how does star formation occur ?! – How is it related to the evolution of galaxy properties?! – What are the physical processes that drive star formation ?! • star formation occurs (at least in spirals at low z) almost exclusively associated with molecular clouds! – what is the rate at which st...

These lectures will cover methods for studying the evolution of galaxies since their formation. Because the properties of a galaxy depend on its history, an understanding of galaxy evolution requires that we understand the dynamical interplay between all components over 10 gigayears. For example, lopsided (m = 1) asymmetries are transient with gigayear time scales, bars may grow slowly or sudde...

We have computed a set of multiphase chemical evolution models in which the radial mass distribution of each theoretical galaxy is calculated using the universal rotation curve from Persic, Salucci & Steel (1996). We obtain the chemical evolution for galaxies of different masses and morphological types by changing the efficiencies to form molecular clouds and stars according with these types. W...

We present recent results on the evolution of the colour-magnitude relation and of the star formation activity in galaxy clusters since z ∼ 0.8. Results are based on the ESO Distant Cluster Survey (EDisCS) an ESO large programme aimed at the study of cluster structure and cluster galaxy evolution over a significant fraction of cosmic time and are discussed in the framework of the current standa...

We analyze bright-end (K = 10 − 17) galaxy counts from a number of near-infrared galaxy surveys. All studies available as of mid-1997, considered individually or collectively, show that the observed near-infrared galaxy number counts at low magnitudes are inconsistent with a simple no-evolution model. We examine evolutionary effects and a local underdensity model as possible causes of this effe...

Kn-band imaging of a sample of 30 edge-on spiral galaxies with a boxy or peanut-shaped (B/PS) bulge is discussed. Galaxies with a B/PS bulge tend to have a more complex morphology than galaxies with other bulge types, unsharp-masked images revealing structures that trace the major orbit families of three-dimensional bars. Their surface brightness profiles are also more complex, typically contai...

The DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey is now well underway, having already measured the redshifts to ∼5600 galaxies in its first season of observations. Here I briefly review the survey itself, before discussing in more detail some of the initial science results to have recently appeared in the literature. In particular, the potential of the survey to characterize galaxy evolution is discussed, with...

The interplay between dust and molecules is of fundamental importance in early galaxy evolution. First we present the prediction for the dust emission from forming galaxies. Then we discuss the observational strategy for molecules in early galaxies by infrared absorption lines of a bright continuum source behind the clouds. By combining these two approaches, we will be able to have a coherent p...

We describe the results of observations of galaxy clusters conducted with ISOCAM on-board the Infrared Space Observatory. Our research is aimed at understanding the processes driving galaxy evolution in dense environments, free from the bias of dust extinction. The results reveal quite a complex picture: the star-formation activity of cluster galaxies does not show a simple evolution with redsh...