Monday 1 April at 3pm

ABSTRACT: "With the launch of the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) by the European Space Agency in 1995, the complete infrared window, generally blocked from the ground because of interference by the earth's atmosphere, was finally opened for astronomy. Given the high sensitivity, resolution, and wavelength coverage provided by ISO, it was particularly suited to observations of star-forming regions. Here I will discuss the role of dust in three realms of star-formation, namely dense molecular clouds, hot cores, and external galaxies. Firstly, dust in dense molecular clouds is sufficiently shielded that icy mantles form on the grain surfaces. I will discuss how these ices subsequently serve as diagnostics for the degree of thermal processing that occurs as a result of the newly formed star. The region close to the protostar, the hot core, is a harsh environment, where the dust ice mantles are evaporated or sputtered back into the gas-phase. This release of molecular species, many of which formed on grain surfaces, then drives a rich complex chemistry primarily resulting in the formation of complex organic molecules. Finally, I will show that ices act as a tracer of the degree of star-formation occurring in galaxies beyond our own and help to elucidate the evolutionary status of IR-bright galaxies."