The 2010 Gordon Conference on Biogenic Hydrocarbons and The Atmosphere will present and discuss cutting-edge research on the ecological and atmospheric importance of the hydrocarbon compounds released by vegetation. The Conference will feature a wide range of topics such as the biosynthetic pathways, ecological functions, and reaction mechanisms of plant-emitted hydrocarbons. Additional topics will include the conversion of hydrocarbons to particles and their associated influences on climate, and science and policy implications of biogenic hydrocarbons. Invited speakers represent a variety of scientific disciplines, including ecology, biochemistry, atmospheric science, and environmental policy. The Conference will bring together an array of investigators who are at the forefront of their research field and will provide unique opportunities for junior scientists and graduate students to present their work in poster format and exchange ideas with leaders in the field. In addition, a group of poster presenters will be selected to give brief oral presentations. The collegial and inter-disciplinary atmosphere of this Conference, with programmed discussion sessions as well as opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, provides an excellent venue for scientists from different disciplines to brainstorm and to develop collaborations across scientific fields.