16222

Leo P is the closest extremely metal poor galaxy that is still forming stars - only 1.62 Mpc away comma with a metallicity of only 0.03 Zsol. This makes it a unique object comma able to provide insights onto the ISM at these extreme metallicities comma and acting as a local laboratory for understanding primitive systems at high redshift. We propose using 6 orbits of HST imaging to obtain observations of Leo P in 4 UV-NIR filters. This data will enable us to perform panchromatic extinction mapping in Leo P - fitting the multiwavelength SEDs of its stars comma and modelling the dust along the line-of-sight to each. We will thereby produce a resolved map of the dust extinction in Leo P - the first ever map of the cold star-forming ISM in an extremely metal poor galaxy. This dust map will tell us the amount comma location comma and properties comma of the dust in Leo P - providing invaluable constraints on how the ISM evolves at the lowest metallicities comma and supporting the calibration of metallicity corrections for primitive systems at high redshift.