2009 Gordon Research Conference on Liquid Crystals; Colby Sawyer College; New London, New Hampshire on Summer 2009

技术摘要：2009年戈登液晶研究会议（2009年6月14-19日）讨论了液晶科学、液晶应用以及液晶概念重要的生物和医学领域的当前问题。会议的内容非常广泛，从液晶性质的最新基础理论和实验到液晶在生物系统中所起作用的前沿工作。讨论的主题包括新型液晶的合成和表征、包含各种纳米粒子的液晶系统、液晶中的自组装和分子聚集、最先进的模拟和建模、双轴向列数列、弹性体、液晶排序和生物功能、生物启发材料，以及液晶在生物医学成像、光子学、激光、电光学和传感器中的现代应用。受邀的演讲者代表了学术界和工业界，他们来自广泛的学科，包括生物学、化学、工程学、医学和物理学。这一集主要的研究者讨论了这一广泛学科的最新（通常未发表）结果，并探讨了仍有待回答的最紧迫的问题。非技术总结：2009年戈登液晶研究会议（2009年6月14-19日）讨论了液晶科学、液晶应用以及液晶概念重要的生物和医学领域的当前问题。会议的内容非常广泛，从液晶性质的最新基础理论和实验到液晶在生物系统中所起作用的前沿工作。虽然一直有很多来自美国以外的参与者，但这个两年一次的会议是美国国内唯一一个专门聚集软物质领域研究液晶或相关系统的顶级科学家和工程师的会议。这些参与者中有生物医学、纳米科学和传感器社区的成员，他们正在以新的方式应用液晶概念和技术。此外，还拨出大量资金支持处于职业生涯早期的研究人员和来自传统上代表性不足群体的研究人员的参与。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The 2009 Gordon Research Conference on Liquid Crystals (June 14-19, 2009) addresses current issues in liquid crystal science, applications of liquid crystals, and areas of biology and medicine in which liquid crystal concepts are important. The coverage of the Conference is extremely broad, ranging from the latest fundamental theories and experiments into the nature of liquid crystals to the cutting-edge work on the role liquid crystals play in biological systems. Discussion topics include the synthesis and characterization of new liquid crystals, liquid crystal systems containing nanoparticles of various kinds, self-assembly and molecular aggregation in liquid crystals, state-of-the-art simulation and modeling, biaxial nematics, elastomers, liquid crystal ordering and biological function, bio-inspired materials, and modern uses of liquid crystals in biomedical imaging, photonics, lasing, electro-optics, and sensors. Invited speakers representing both academia and industry come from a wide range of disciplines, including biology, chemistry, engineering, medicine, and physics. This collection of leading investigators discusses the latest (often unpublished) results within this broad array of disciplines and explores the most pressing questions still to be answered.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The 2009 Gordon Research Conference on Liquid Crystals (June 14-19, 2009) addresses current issues in liquid crystal science, applications of liquid crystals, and areas of biology and medicine in which liquid crystal concepts are important. The coverage of the Conference is extremely broad, ranging from the latest fundamental theories and experiments into the nature of liquid crystals to the cutting-edge work on the role liquid crystals play in biological systems. Although there have always been a good number of participants from outside of the U.S., this biennial conference serves as the only dedicated gathering within the United States of top scientists and engineers in the field of soft matter investigating liquid crystals or related systems. Among these participants are members of the biomedical, nanoscience, and sensor communities, who are applying liquid crystal concepts and techniques in new ways. Also, significant funds are earmarked to support the participation of researchers early in their careers and researchers from traditionally underrepresented groups.