Deidre Hunter

Star Formation in Irregular Galaxies: Current Knowledge and Unanswered Questions

I will stimulate discussion on the internal star formation processes in non-interacting irregular galaxies by examining five interrelated questions: What regulates star formation? What feedback processes exist? What are the consequences of the ISM characteristics? What is the role of the extended gas? How do star formation rates of current systems compare with those of more distant galaxies? In this framework I will talk about what observations and models are currently telling us and what is not yet clear, perhaps also where there are contradictions.