R. Cava et al. /Progress in Solid State Chemistry 30(2002)1-101 high pressure phase transitions, solid state approaches to nuclear waste disposal and CO2 sequestration, and nanoparticles in the environment. Many materials(for example zeolites, spinels, perovskites, clays) are of interest to both Earth science and materials science, and provide suitable ground for mutual interest and interdisci- plinary collaboration Earth scientists have many areas of commonality with solid state chemists. Earth scientists are concerned with complex and diverse chemical systems, and thermodyn amic stability and chemical compatibility over both long and short time scales, and length scales ranging from the atomic, through the nanoscale, to the geological. One particular area of interaction with solid state chemistry can be in the area of miner- alogy, where the complexities of mineral crystal structures are unequalled. Such complex mineral structures are not often considered by solid state chemists in their search for functional materials. Solid state chemists and geologists share many com- mon tools, and also often think about the same chemical compounds though from different points of view. Of particular interest to both areas of expertise is compound formation in high pressure, high temperature water or other solvents. This has only recently begun to be extensively exploited in solid state chemistry. The concepts of nanoscale science, of such recent interest to solid state chemists, are presently also of great interest in Earth and environmental science and present a great opportunit for mutual interaction 1.3. Biology The study and exploitation of biological processes has not yet had substantial overlap with the field of solid state chemistry. However, given recent developments there is substantial reason to believe that this will be an area of tremendous future growth. The earliest manifestation of this research-bio-inorganic chemistry-sought to understand the function of metal clusters in enzymes and electron transfer proteins This field has matured considerably. However, it still begs more fundamental under- standing. More importantly, this body of work suggests new opportunities such as mimic of functions of cluster-containing proteins in, for example, energy transduction and catalysis In parallel, use of metallic surfaces to conjugate proteins and oligonu- cleotides has resulted in new opportunities for bio-assays, preparation of bio-inspired devices and fundamental studies of biomolecular function. It is obvious that conju- gation of biomolecules to a wider variety of surfaces can lead to new functions and new opportunities for hybrid devices. These could include solid-state semiconducting materials and the walls of zeolitic channels this work also extends to the interaction of materials with whole cells-control of their growth and proliferation can be effected using simple surfaces. Perhaps solid-state materials can further the efforts to couple electronic, electromagnetic and mechanical stimulations to cells and ulti mately to tissues. Exploration of these emerging issues was accomplished during the workshop. The overall goal was to appreciate new opportunities at this interface and to assess potential paths for interdisciplinary research in this area Increased interactions between biology and solid state chemistry, like between biology and other areas of physical science, are hampered by a lack of a commonR.J. Cava et al. / Progress in Solid State Chemistry 30 (2002) 1–101 5 high pressure phase transitions, solid state approaches to nuclear waste disposal and CO2 sequestration, and nanoparticles in the environment. Many materials (for example zeolites, spinels, perovskites, clays) are of interest to both Earth science and materials science, and provide suitable ground for mutual interest and interdisci￾plinary collaboration. Earth scientists have many areas of commonality with solid state chemists. Earth scientists are concerned with complex and diverse chemical systems, and thermodyn￾amic stability and chemical compatibility over both long and short time scales, and length scales ranging from the atomic, through the nanoscale, to the geological. One particular area of interaction with solid state chemistry can be in the area of miner￾alogy, where the complexities of mineral crystal structures are unequalled. Such complex mineral structures are not often considered by solid state chemists in their search for functional materials. Solid state chemists and geologists share many com￾mon tools, and also often think about the same chemical compounds though from different points of view. Of particular interest to both areas of expertise is compound formation in high pressure, high temperature water or other solvents. This has only recently begun to be extensively exploited in solid state chemistry. The concepts of nanoscale science, of such recent interest to solid state chemists, are presently also of great interest in Earth and environmental science and present a great opportunity for mutual interaction. 1.3. Biology The study and exploitation of biological processes has not yet had substantial overlap with the field of solid state chemistry. However, given recent developments, there is substantial reason to believe that this will be an area of tremendous future growth. The earliest manifestation of this research—bio-inorganic chemistry—sought to understand the function of metal clusters in enzymes and electron transfer proteins. This field has matured considerably. However, it still begs more fundamental under￾standing. More importantly, this body of work suggests new opportunities such as mimic of functions of cluster-containing proteins in, for example, energy transduction and catalysis. In parallel, use of metallic surfaces to conjugate proteins and oligonu￾cleotides has resulted in new opportunities for bio-assays, preparation of bio-inspired devices and fundamental studies of biomolecular function. It is obvious that conju￾gation of biomolecules to a wider variety of surfaces can lead to new functions and new opportunities for hybrid devices. These could include solid-state semiconducting materials and the walls of zeolitic channels. This work also extends to the interaction of materials with whole cells—control of their growth and proliferation can be effected using simple surfaces. Perhaps solid-state materials can further the efforts to couple electronic, electromagnetic and mechanical stimulations to cells and ulti￾mately to tissues. Exploration of these emerging issues was accomplished during the workshop. The overall goal was to appreciate new opportunities at this interface and to assess potential paths for interdisciplinary research in this area. Increased interactions between biology and solid state chemistry, like between biology and other areas of physical science, are hampered by a lack of a common