Working Group Summary - Local Universe

TL;DR

This paper summarizes discussions on how upcoming facilities like E-ELT, ALMA, and SKA will advance the study of star formation and the properties of the Local Universe across various scales and environments.

Contribution

It highlights the potential synergies between optical/IR and radio observations for understanding star formation in the Local Universe with future telescopes.

Findings

Enhanced understanding of star formation processes across different environments.

Potential for detailed comparisons between the Milky Way and distant systems.

Insights into the properties of molecular and neutral gas in star-forming regions.

Abstract

This is a summary of the discussions that took place in the working group dedicated to studies of the Local Universe. The authors are listed in alphabetical order, after the working group organiser, and are those who gave a presentation during the week in Crete; their contributions are incorporated here. During the group discussions we considered the various synergies that exist between future studies of individual stars and star formation regions at optical/IR wavelengths that will be possible with the E-ELT and those of the molecular and neutral gas in similar regions that will be possible with ALMA and SKA. The primary emphasise was on star formation; both on large and small scales. New facilities will allow more detailed insights into the properties of our own Galaxy and also allow us to make detailed comparisons with a range of more distant systems all forming stars at different rates from different initial conditions (e.g., metallicity) and with different spatial distributions.