The 2011 Gordon Conference on Cellulosomes, Cellulases, and other Carbohydrate Modifying Enzymes will present cutting-edge research on the enzymatic degradation of cellulose and other plant cell wall polysaccharides. The Conference will feature a wide range of topics that includes the structure of the substrates, the enzymology of plant structural degradation, regulation of the degradative apparatus, the mechanism of protein complex assembly, the genomics of cell wall degrading organisms, and the industrial deployment of plant cell wall degrading enzymes within the newly developing biofuel arena. It should be emphasized that the 2011 Conference will include, in addition to cellulase research, recent advances in other plant cell wall degrading enzymes - thus, contributions from people working on hemicellulases, chitinases and pectinases will be particularly welcome. Invited speakers represent a variety of scientific disciplines, including plant cell wall structure, enzymology, structural biology, genetics and cell biology. The interplay between fundamental research and its industrial exploitation is a particularly important aspect of the meeting, reflected in the appointment of the chair and vice-chair from industry and academia, respectively. The meeting will provide opportunities for junior scientists and graduate students to present their work in poster format and exchange ideas with more established figures in the field. Indeed, some poster presenters will be selected for short talks. The collegial atmosphere of this Conference, with programmed discussion sessions as well as opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, provides an avenue for scientists from different disciplines, and from academic and industrial backgrounds, to interact - thus promoting cross-disciplinary collaborations in the various research areas represented. The Conference is likely to be heavily subscribed so we would recommend that you submit your application/abstract to the GRC website as soon as possible.