  The next generation of multi-object spectrographs (MOS) will deliver
comprehensive surveys of the Galaxy, Magellanic Clouds and nearby dwarfs. These
will provide us with the vast samples, spanning the full extent of the
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, that are needed to explore the chemistry, history
and dynamics of their host systems. Further ahead, the Extremely Large
Telescopes (ELTs) will have sufficient sensitivity and angular resolution to
extend stellar spectroscopy well beyond the Local Group, opening-up studies of
the chemical evolution of galaxies across a broad range of galaxy types and
environments. In this contribution I briefly reflect on current and future
studies of stellar populations, and introduce plans for the MOSAIC instrument
for the European ELT.
