The 2011 Gordon Conference on Evolutionary & Ecological Genomics will present cutting-edge research on using genomics approaches to study adaptation of organisms to changing environments, genome evolution and population genetics, as well as the evolution of complex phenotypes. In particular, several of the talks this year will highlight evidence for evolution at the molecular and phenotypic levels in response to climate change. A diversity of sessions will highlight recent results from natural as well as experimental populations, and will cover both non-model and model species. There will be an exciting balance between ecologists using genomics to study adaptation in rapidly evolving systems, as well as genomicists using large-scale sequence, expression and functional assays to study variation among populations and species.

The conveners Loretta Johnson (Kansas State University) and Gretchen Hofmann (UC Santa Barbara) are committed to assembling a diverse conference with a mix of high profile established scientists and as well as post-docs and grad students early in their professional careers. We plan to select some submitted abstracts for invited talks. We are actively applying for funds to allow graduate students and others to attend. Although attendance at Gordon Conferences is by application, we intend to admit as many as we can on a first-come-first serve basis. The collegial atmosphere of this Conference, with discussion sessions as well as opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, provides an avenue for scientists from different disciplines to brainstorm and promotes cross-disciplinary collaborations. We hope to see you there, at the University of New England!