Understanding how energy flows within and between molecules is essential to the development of a fundamental understanding of the nature of all chemical processes. The deepest understanding can be achieved when phenomena are studied at the molecular level, connecting quantum-state, time-resolved and other modern methods of experimentation to ab initio theoretical study. The Gordon Research Conference on Molecular Energy Transfer will bring together scientists concerned with a wide variety of topics spanning chemistry, physics and biology, yet unified by the idea that developing a molecular picture of chemical dynamics is a central goal of their endeavors. An important aspect of the field is that nearly every forefront topic of inquiry is well-represented by experimental and theoretical advances. Topics of interest are remarkably diverse, as the emphasis on deriving fundamental understanding often leads to insights in real-world phenomena or even to the development of novel technologies.

In keeping with the tradition of this meeting, which alternates between the MET Gordon Conference in the US and the COMET meeting in Europe, sessions will cover all areas of molecular energy transfer:

• Chemical reactivity and reaction dynamics
• Ionized and electronically excited species
• Clusters, interfaces and condensed phase
• Photochemistry, spectroscopy, and imaging
• Non-adiabatic, spin-forbidden, and vibronic ET

The meeting will be preceded by the two-day Gordon Research Seminar on Molecular Energy Transfer, which provides opportunities for graduate students and post-doctoral researchers to present and discuss their research in an informal atmosphere of their peers. First introduced in 2005, and then subsequently held at the 2007 COMET meeting in Arcachon, France, the GRS provides a great opportunity for younger members of the community to meet and exchange ideas with their colleagues prior to the start of the regular meeting.

For further information about both the Conference and the Gordon Research Seminar, please see: http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~krylov/grcomet2009/index.html