I discuss several on-going programs to understand observationally the physical processes important for driving galaxy evolution. I present integral field spectroscopic and imaging observations of galaxies from z=0.6 to 5 to demonstrate the wide range of phenomenology exhibited by high redshift galaxies. I then turn to how these properties may translate into a deeper understanding of how galaxies form and evolve, touching on the physical characteristics of galaxies such as their dynamical masses, metallicities, angular momenta, etc., the importance of feedback of massive stars and supermassive black holes, and the possible relative roles of mergers and gas accretion in influencing galaxies at different redshifts.
observatoire de Paris