  We give an introduction into the observational technique of integral field or
3D spectroscopy. We discuss advantages and drawbacks of this type of
observations and highlight a few science projects enabled by this method. In
the second part we describe our 3D spectroscopic survey of Blue Compact Dwarf
Galaxies. We show preliminary results from data taken with the VIMOS integral
field unit and give an outlook on how automated spectral analysis and
forthcoming instruments can provide a new view on star formation and associated
processes in dwarf galaxies.
