Chemical Probes in Biology

This NATO Advanced Study Institute (co-sponsored by FEBS and INTAS) under the title "Chemical Probes in Biology" was designed to summarize and disseminate recent expert knowledge regarding a deeper understanding ofbiological phenomena on a molecular level. Such scientific activities -frequently termed Bio-organic Chemistry or Chemical Biology ­ are constituting a highly interdisciplinary branch of chemistry beyond the traditional ways in which chemists and biologists have been working in the past. Thus, on this occasion we were bringing together senior experts from the disciplines of Chemistry and Biology in order to amalgamate their diverse yet basically common interests in this area. Ultimate goal was - next to an exchange of information between the two scientific cultures - the communication ofexciting possibilities in interdisciplinary research to the young scientists present. The meeting was held in the Anargyros and Korgialenios School on the Island ofSpeteses, Greece from 18-30 August 2002. The ASI was attended by a total of 91 scholars from 23 different countries. A group of 27 speakers presented a series of 34 highly stimulating, informative and educational lectures covering a broad range of topics relevant to the general theme ofthis meeting: Science at the InteifaceofChemistry, Biology and Medicine. The lectures were complemented by a total of 89 posters presented by the young scholars and a series of short lectures derived thereof This was clearly one ofthe highlites of the meeting creating a lively atmosphere of interaction and intellectual creativity - typical phenomena for the whole meeting.