The Chemical Evolution of the Universe

We propose an integrated observational program to provide a local benchmark sample of galaxies with reliable chemical abundances, to eliminate errors in the calibration of the cosmic chemical abundance scale, to investigate mass-loss from galaxies as a function of mass, to discover where the missing baryons of the Universe are hiding and to provide new and fundamental insights into the chemical evolution of the Universe through cosmic time. We will employ a wide variety of observing and analysis techniques using new state-of-art instruments located in Australia, in Hawaii, and in space.