Gordon Research Conferences
Encyclopedia
Gordon Research Conferences are international scientific conferences organized by a non-profit organization
of the same name. The conference topics cover frontier research in the biological
, chemical
, and physical
sciences, and their related technologies. The conferences have been held since 1931, and have expanded to almost 200 conferences per year. Conference locations are chosen partly for their scenic and often isolated nature, to encourage an informal community atmosphere. Contributions are "off-record" to encourage free discussion, often of unpublished research. Conferences were extended to cover science education
in 1991. The conference topics are regularly publicised in the presitigous journal Science
: 2010, 2009, 2008,
2007, and 2006.
in the late 1920s. By 1931 this had evolved into a graduate seminar that was also attended by external participants. The Gordon Research Conferences were initiated by Dr. Neil E. Gordon, of the Johns Hopkins University.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
of the same name. The conference topics cover frontier research in the biological
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, chemical
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, and physical
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
sciences, and their related technologies. The conferences have been held since 1931, and have expanded to almost 200 conferences per year. Conference locations are chosen partly for their scenic and often isolated nature, to encourage an informal community atmosphere. Contributions are "off-record" to encourage free discussion, often of unpublished research. Conferences were extended to cover science education
Science education
Science education is the field concerned with sharing science content and process with individuals not traditionally considered part of the scientific community. The target individuals may be children, college students, or adults within the general public. The field of science education comprises...
in 1991. The conference topics are regularly publicised in the presitigous journal Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
: 2010, 2009, 2008,
2007, and 2006.
History
The forerunner of the Gordon Conferences was the summer sessions held at the chemistry department of Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in the late 1920s. By 1931 this had evolved into a graduate seminar that was also attended by external participants. The Gordon Research Conferences were initiated by Dr. Neil E. Gordon, of the Johns Hopkins University.