His research combines (federates) data from space-based imaging (using ESA and NASA space telescopes), and ground-based imaging and spectroscopics facilities in Australia and Chile. He uses these data to build up an empirical blueprint of the evolution of mass, energy and structure from the era of the Big Bang 13.7billion years ago to the present data. As part of this process he leads large international teams of astronomers through the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) and Wide Area VISTA Extragalactic Surveys (WAVES). In coming years he will be incporating data from a number of notable missions on which he has guaranteed time including eROSITA, Euclid and JWST.