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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 December 2009
Over the last decade observations at submillimetre (submm) wavelengths, with their unique ability to trace molecular gas and dust, have attained a central role in our exploration of nearby as well as distant galaxies. Even so, due to the limited sensitivity and angular resolution of current submm single-dish telescopes only the most luminous objects have been uncovered at high redshifts, with interferometric follow-up observations succeeding in resolving the dust and gas reservoirs at ~0.3-1'' resolution in only a few cases. The coming years will witness a drastic improvement in the current situation, thanks to the arrival of a new suite of powerful submm telescopes (single-dish and interferometers) with an order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity and resolution. In this overview I outline some of the major scientific advances that we expect to make with these ground-breaking facilities.