Violent star and star cluster formation in nearby and distant galaxies
  I present recent observations and analyses of star cluster formation in a wide variety of environments -- from young star clusters and super star clusters in normal actively star-forming spirals and irregulars to starbursting dwarfs and spiral-spiral mergers. Star cluster formation in interacting galaxies can be restricted to central starburst region, extend over the entire body of the merger, or even all along extended tidal structures. I address methods and results for the determination of star cluster ages, metallicities, masses, and sizes and discuss the nature, possible lifetimes and future signatures of these star cluster populations, as well as the relative importance of field star formation vs. star cluster formation. 
Uta Fritze - v. Alvensleben (Institut fuer Astrophysik, Universitaet   Goettingen, Germany)