The 2009 Gordon Research Conference on Cell Growth and Proliferation will provide a forum for the discussion of the multiple cellular processes that contribute to cellular growth and division. Research at the forefront of our understanding of basic cell cycle processes including DNA replication, entry into, exit from and maintenance of mitosis and the various cell cycle checkpoints that restrain division when cell cycle events are disrupted wil be covered. In addition, the multiple signaling pathways that impact cellular growth will be discussed. Given the importance of unrestrained proliferation in carcinogenesis, significant time will also be devoted to consideration of how normal processes go awry during the development of cancers and how these cellular alterations promote tumorigenesis. Over the past several decades, dramatic progress in all of these areas has resulted from the cross-fertilization of ideas and observations made in multiple model systems (e.g. yeast, Xenopus, mammalian tissue culture models, flies, mice). Accordingly, a diverse group of international researchers working in multiple systems will attend the meeting to discuss their latest findings. Meeting attendees will be encouraged to contribute to these discussions and to present posters. In addition, short talk presenters will be selected from submitted abstracts.

The 2009 Gordon Research Conference on Chemistry Education Research and Practice provides an opportunity for the chemical education community of scholars to evaluate and address important issues and future directions of the field. The purpose of this conference is to establish and maintain good, direct communication between chemical educators with common professional interests. The unique Gordon Conference format of off-the-record presentations; in-depth small group discussion and question and answer sessions; common residence, common mealtimes, single session presentations in the morning and evening with afternoons free for participant directed activities, and fun evening poster presentations/social sessions provides substantial opportunity for challenging intellectual discussion and professional networking. Beginning investigators, graduate students, and post-docs have the opportunity to present their work in a poster format and exchange ideas with the speakers and leaders in the field. The relaxed, informal, and collegial nature of this conference makes it possible for participants to brainstorm and hold breakout sessions on current topics and issues. As a field, we have begun to understand the nature of difficulties that students experience in learning science concepts and in solving scientific problems; the importance of motivation; how attitudes are influenced by instruction; the importance of static and dynamic visual representations of molecular systems, how the role of culture influences learning in non-traditional students, the limitations of the use of technology in instruction, the role that instructional social interactions play in helping students understand science concepts ad principles; and how education researchers in STEM disciplines investigate areas of common interest. The GRC:CERP provides a unique venue for exchanging ideas pertaining to important issues in our field. The 2007 participants evaluated the GRC:CERP as an excellent conference and I hope to continue this tradition. Thank you for your continuing support of this conference.

Conference Philosophy, for New Attendees
The Gordon Conference format provides the opportunity for intense interaction among a small number of participants (about 140), and the opportunity to get to know each other well. Presentations are scheduled for mornings and evenings. Afternoons are un-scheduled so that small groups can organize spontaneously to discuss a pressing issue or to share a field trip. Conference participants are strongly encouraged to be present for the entire conference. They are encouraged to have breakfast, lunch and dinner as a group on campus in the dining hall. It is also anticipated that participants will present a poster of their current unpublished research efforts. Furthermore, all discussions at the GRC are informal and off-the-record. Presentations and posters may not be distributed in print nor cited. Invited speakers are required to be present at the conference for at least two days so they may participate in the session discussions and so that the participants may have the opportunity for in-depth informal discussions with each speaker.

Application to Attend the Conference and the Acceptance Process
Due to the unique nature of the conference, a prescribed GRC application procedure is followed. If you have any questions or concerns about the application procedure, please contact the current GRC:CERP chair or one of the previous GRC:CERP chairs. If you are doing chemical education research and or if you are using effective instructional strategies, we invite you to apply to this conference. Follow the on-line links on the website. The Conference Chair decides whether to accept, reject or waitlist applicants. Review of the applications will begin in March. A strong conference will consist of participants who contribute or exhibit the potential to contribute to the intellectual richness of the field, to a healthy discussion of issues, and who represent a diverse array of scholars.

Poster Presentations
It is expected that all applicants will be interested in contributing a poster. The evening poster sessions and mixers are an important component of the conference. There is a place for entering and submitting an abstract of your poster. Marcy Towns, the conference Vice-Chair, will organize the poster sessions. Participants volunteer to organize the theme for each evening's mixer and social hour.

Registration Commitment
Once you have been accepted, please register soon thereafter. If you wait, the Chair may decide to offer the opportunity to a person on the waitlist. The risk of this happening increases greatly once we are into late April.

Special Conference Support
Marcy Towns and I would like to encourage the application and attendance of chemical educators from diverse backgrounds and experiences, including women and minorities to the Conference. A limited number of Carl Storm Under-Represented Minority Fellowship Awards are available for first-time GRC attendees who are US citizens or permanent residents. There are also Carl Storm International Diversity Fellowships for graduate students or post-docs who are of non-US nationality based outside the USA in countries that are underrepresented in the field. Additionally, the GRC has limited funds to support research-active scientists from Primarily Undergraduate Institutions in the USA and research scientists working in Eastern European/Former Soviet Union Institutions. The Chair may have the ability to provide partial financial support to scholars who are beginning their chemical education career. Contact the Conference Chair for additional information.