Formation and evolution of galaxies is a main topic of contemporary astrophysics. Studying the formation history of the Milky Way as written in its stars is one way of providing answers to some of the questions about galaxy formation and evolution in general. 

In this talk I will give an overview of what we know about the Milky Way as a galaxy, how we study its properties and history with the help of low-mass stars, sometimes called Galactic Archeology. I will discuss why we think that the study of the Milky Way is important for our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution in general. In particular, I will cover concepts such as chemical evolution, the merger history of the Milky Way and how large spectroscopic surveys in combination with positions and on-sky motions from the Gaia satellite are currently transforming our understanding of the Milky Way, our home in the Universe.

This talk is one of two, giving the background to a talk by Diane Feuillet in January 2024, which will focus more on specific projects the Ursa Minor astronomy group in the Geology department is carrying out.