One of our greatest challenges in cosmology is
understanding the origin of the structure of the universe, and in
particular the formation of the galaxies. I will describe how the
fossil radiation from the beginning of the universe, the cosmic
microwave background, has provided a window for probing the initial
conditions from which structure evolved and seeded the formation of
the galaxies, and the outstanding issues that remain to be resolved.
I will address our optimal choice of future strategy in order to
make further progress on understanding our cosmic origins.