In support of this mission statement, the GRC board of trustees is committed to: providing a service to the research and development community in the biological, chemical or physical sciences through the organization and support of scientific conferences. Each gordon research conference has a recurring thematic topic and strives to be the overall BEST meeting in its field. A conference program may extend to related subjects in areas such as industrial technology, the environmental sciences, geology, medicine, computation, science education, and public policy. Providing an open application process for attendance at GRC by active scientists, technologists and educators from academia, government and industry. Assuring a format and site locations that encourage extensive formal and informal discussion and a sense of community among the attendees. Placing a premium on the "off the record" presentation of previously unpublished scientific results and on the consequent AD HOC PEER discussion. Using the GRC as a positive influence on the culture of science as reflected in openness to a diversity of new ideas and concepts, outreach to global science, and establishment of an egalitarian environment for scientific debate. Providing a forum for career networking and career advancement. Supporting and encouraging young scientists as they establish initial scientific and personal contacts. Maintaining a "bottom-up and open governance process at ALL levels of the GRC organization, including establishing new conferences, and reviewing and governing recurrent conferences. Providing a forum for the synthesis and evaluation of new concepts as a means to clarify and crystallize new research directions. Making the GRC available to the worldwide scientific community and assuring that the GRC is responsive to the needs of a diversity of scientific cultures and interests.