Interactions Between Organic and Inorganic Materials Across Time and Length Scales

The Gordon Research Conference on Biomineralization explores the fundamental processes by which organisms produce minerals, as well as the possibility to exploit these principles in technological applications. Biomineralization processes play important roles in biology, geology, biotechnology and medicine, and provide inspiration for chemistry, materials science and nanotechnology. This highly successful conference - which celebrates its 20th birthday - will bring together researchers from many disciplines to address the mineralization by vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, bacteria as well as in biomimetic systems, and cover most biomineral systems, including calcium carbonates, phosphates, oxalates, iron oxides and silica.

The high level of control over the composition, structure, size, and morphology of biominerals results in materials of amazing complexity and with fascinating properties that strongly contrast with those of geological minerals and often surpass those of synthetic analogues. This GRC on Biomineralization will discuss the basic principles by which organisms synthesize, control and make use of minerals, and also explore the potential to apply these principles e.g. in regenerative medicine and nanotechnology.

The conference will cover all stages from the nucleation of mineral, the molecular biology of matrix production and the molecular details of matrix-mineral interactions to the effects of pathogenic mineralization and the macroscopic properties of biological and bio-inspired materials. Particular attention will be paid to the exiting recent new insights that were gained by the (combined) use of experimental and modeling techniques with high spatial and/or temporal resolution.

There will be afternoon poster sessions where all conferees can present their latest research and exchange ideas in an informal setting. All conferees are encouraged to submit and present posters, highlighting work that has not been previously published to a significant extent. We will select 8-10 of the best poster abstracts for short oral presentations.

In addition, a Gordon Research Seminar will be organized for young researchers to discuss science, experiences and career opportunities amongst peers and to become acquainted already before the start of the GRC, adding to the informal character of the meeting.