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.