I use multiwavelength (far-UV, optical, near-IR, radio) diagnostics to characterize the star formation activity seen in nearby starburst, starburst + AGN, and `normal' galaxies, and to shed light upon the relationships between
1) starburst activity and `normal' star formation
2) starbursts and AGN
3) star formation activity and HI content
4) nearby and high redshift star forming galaxies