The Sydney–AAO Multi-object Integral field spectrograph (SAMI) Galaxy Survey is an ongoing project to obtain integral field spectroscopic observations of ∼3400 galaxies by mid-2016. Including the pilot survey, a total of ∼1000 galaxies have been observed to date, making the SAMI Galaxy Survey the largest of its kind in existence. This unique dataset allows a wide range of investigations into different aspects of galaxy evolution.

The first public data from the SAMI Galaxy Survey, consisting of 107 galaxies drawn from the full sample, has now been released. By giving early access to SAMI data for the entire research community, we aim to stimulate research across a broad range of topics in galaxy evolution. As the sample continues to grow, the survey will open up a new and unique parameter space for galaxy evolution studies.

In March 2013, the Sydney–AAO Multi-object Integral field spectrograph (SAMI) began a major survey of 3400 galaxies at the AAT, the largest of its kind to date. At the time of writing, over a third of the targets have been observed and the scientific impact has been immediate. The Manga galaxy survey has now started at the SDSS telescope and will target an even larger sample of nearby galaxies. In Australia, the community is now gearing up to deliver a major new facility called Hector that will allow integral field spectroscopy of 100 galaxies observed simultaneously. By the close of the decade, it will be possible to obtain integral field spectroscopy of 100,000 galaxies over 3000 square degrees of sky down to r=17 (median). Many of these objects will have HI imaging from the new ASKAP radio surveys. We discuss the motivation for such a survey and the use of new cosmological simulations that are properly matched to the integral field observations. The Hector survey will open up a new and unique parameter space for galaxy evolution studies.

The Sydney–AAO Multi-object Integral field spectrograph (SAMI) Galaxy Survey is an ongoing project to obtain spatially resolved spectroscopic observations of ~3400 galaxies by mid-2016. To date, a total of ~1000 galaxies have been observed, making the SAMI Galaxy Survey the largest integral field survey in existence. In July 2014 the early data release for the SAMI galaxy Survey occurred, with over 100 galaxies available to the community. The richness of the SAMI dataset allows a vast array of science. We highlight some of the early science results from the project, including the discovery and analysis of galactic winds, the distribution of fast and slow rotating early type galaxies, and the unification of galaxy scaling relations.