Astronomy Colloquium

As the nearest actively star-forming galaxies, the Magellanic Clouds offer a unique opportunity to study the physical processes that drive galaxy evolution. Years of effort have produced great strides in our understanding of these galaxies, and with comprehensive surveys of the Clouds in both optical and infrared bands coming online, it is truly an exciting time to be a Magellanic researcher. However, the Clouds don't give up their secrets easily, and many fundamental aspects of their nature remain shrouded in mystery. I will present some of these mysteries, and the present and future lines of research which will lead to their resolution.