The galactic & extragalactic astrophysics group is active in several key areas of research within the wide field of galaxy formation and evolution.Our research spans from numerical simulations of galaxies, to observational studies of stellar populations, interstellar medium and active galactic nuclei as well as quasars as tracers of the large-scale structure of the Universe.The numerical simulation side of our research utilizes both local and external high-performance computing facilities, while the observational side makes use of data from a wide range of ground-based telescopes and satellites, covering the entire wavelength range.With the research carried out on campus at UCLan's Jeremiah Horrocks Institute and continuous interactions with international consortia, we participate in the worldwide scientific community effort to elucidate the origin and structure of galaxies, the building blocks of our Universe.Galaxy DynamicsThe Galaxy Dynamics Group at the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute studies the dynamics and formation of galaxies. We use state-of-the-art supercomputer simulations to model the formation of galaxies, taking into account the role of star formation, supernova and AGN feedback and the chemistry of stars.Key topics of interest include the formation of bulges and discs, the shape and orientation of dark matter halos and the nuclei of galaxies. With the advent of data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission, special attention is being devoted to our home galaxy, the Milky Way.Our group is collaborating with the department of computing to develop new, interactive visualisation software for large simulations. The group is involved with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.Galaxy evolution and Stellar PopulationsThe ages and chemical compositions of different populations of stars in galaxies can tell us a great deal about the formation and evolution of galaxies and their various structural components.Spiral galaxies are complex systems with both actively star forming and passive components, including disks, bulges, halos, bars and spiral arms, whereas early-type galaxies [elliptical and lenticular galaxies] generally have lower levels of star formation and are dominated by a single structural component. However, exactly when, and sometimes where, their stars were made is hard to uncover. In most external galaxies we cannot resolve individual stars, but instead we observe the integrated light from various populations of stars.