Fundamental Mechanisms of Ordering from the Atomic to the Mesoscale

The Crystal Growth and Assembly Gordon Research Conference (previously known as "Thin Film and Crystal Growth Mechanisms GRC") is dedicated to the knowledge and understanding of the fundamental atomic and nanoscale physics and chemistry that are central to the nucleation and growth of crystals for a wide array of technologies. This well-established conference draws researchers from around the world from the fields of physics, chemistry, materials science, biology, and beyond. Historically, the conference has emphasized concepts rather than specific materials, technologies or growth methods. Attendees are drawn together by a common interest in understanding the mechanisms of crystal nucleation and growth and applying this understanding to the development of new materials. This focus has attracted scientists with a broad range of specializations: from biomineralization to quantum dots, from advanced scanning probe microscopies to multiscale molecular modeling, and from the interactions of proteins with inorganic materials to the role of stress in pattern formation. This dynamic conference brings together researchers who find common inspiration in seeing how the general principles of crystal thermodynamics and growth kinetics are applicable to many fields.

The 2015 Crystal Growth and Assembly GRC will continue the tradition of a highly interdisciplinary program. It will focus on the fundamental mechanisms underlying the self-assembly of ordered structures that are universal across a wide array of systems: crystals grown from solution, vapor or melts; colloidal crystals, protein crystals, and biominerals; thin films deposited electrochemically or in ultra high vacuum; chemically assembled organic films; nanowires, nanoparticles and quantum dots formed in the bulk or on surfaces via strained epitaxy, and many others. We will analyze the thermodynamics, kinetics and mechanisms of nucleation and growth, and the interactions between atoms, molecules, and particles that determine phase behavior and pathways of new phase formation. This year, a particular focus will be on the development and application of high-resolution, in situ characterization techniques that can provide mechanistic insights, and how this unprecedented visualization of crystal nucleation and growth can lead to the development of new materials with desired property profiles.

The Conference will bring together a community of prominent senior investigators and junior scientists who are at the forefront of their fields. The informal nature of the conference, along with abundant discussion time, breaks down barriers between students and junior and senior investigators, leading to an ongoing free and animated exchange of scientific ideas. All attendees are encouraged to present posters containing in part at least some new unpublished work, from which some will be selected for short oral presentations. The collegial atmosphere of this Conference, with exciting invited lectures, which are complemented by lively poster sessions, as well as opportunities for informal gatherings and mentoring panels in the afternoons and evenings, provides an avenue for scientists from different disciplines to brainstorm and promotes cross-disciplinary collaborations in the various research areas represented.