The 4-metre Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope (4MOST) is a state-of-the-art, high-multiplex, fibre-fed, optical spectroscopic survey facility currently under construction for ESO’s 4-metre Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA). During the first five years of operation 4MOST will be used to execute a comprehensive programme of both Galactic and extragalactic Public Surveys, and 30% of the observing time during this period will be available to the community. The purpose of this workshop was to prepare the ESO community for this exciting scientific opportunity.