Conferences
27–30 August 2013, Freiberg, Germany
12th International Symposium on Biomineralization
Dear Colleagues,
Currently, biomineralization is evolving from its heyday of structural research into one of the most existing fields of biological materials science, molecular biology, biomedicine and biomimetics. The International Symposia on Biomineralization possess over forty years of tradition. The first symposium was held in Mainz, Germany in 1970. Many highly successful symposia held in subsequent years, the most recent in Japan (2001), Chile (2005), China (2008) and Australia (2011). This is the second time the symposium has been held in Germany, and while there is a lot to live up to, this symposium promises to be another stimulating and memorable event. Freiberg (German: free mountain) is a university and mining town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany.
The Bergakademie Freiberg is one of the five leading mining schools in the German-speaking countries. It is the oldest in the world, with strong roots in tradition that inform it as a modern centre for teaching and research. In recent times Freiberg has made a name for itself throughout Europe as both a high-tech location for micro technology and renewable energy; as well as a center for mineralogy, materials science, and solar technology. Nowadays, the modern equivalents of old Freiberg's silver are silicon and gallium arsenide.
The BIOMIN’12 international symposium aims at bringing together scientists from different backgrounds all interested in understanding the principles of biomineralization and demineralization. Discovery of these natural principles leads to direct, practical applications in biological materials science, biomedicine, and technology. Scientific topics shall include the following: evolutionary aspects of biomineralization, molecular and genetic regulation of Calcification and Silicification from bacteria to vertebrates, pathological biomineralization and biomineral formation under extreme environmental conditions, and modern analytical methods and biomimetics.
Our symposium will host five invited keynote lectures, oral, and poster contributions. The scientific committee cordially invites you to take part in this traditional international event and looks forward to welcoming you to Freiberg.
Hermann Ehrlich
Conference chair
