Extragalactic Star Formation

Jay Gallagher

University of Wisconsin, Madison, U.S.A.

This review talk considers several aspects of star formation that are most readily investigated in extragalactic systems. Basic techniques for determining extragalactic star formation rates are summarized. Starting on larger spatial scales I will consider how star formation is organized in galaxies, including in the high and low density regimes and how star formation rates and intensities depend on local conditions. In closing I will briefly discuss patterns of star formation and evidence for the universality of the stellar initial mass function.