The 2009 Gemological Research Conference will take place Aug. 21-23, 2009, in San Diego, Calif. It will focus on a variety of technical issues of relevance to anyone working with gemstones, and will have applications for educators, earth/materials scientists, and those studying objects of cultural heritage. The 2009 GRC will be hosted by the Gemological Institute of America.
The 3-day event will include world-renowned speakers, cutting-edge oral and poster presentations and panel discussions; international, multidisciplinary participation; including a session organized by the Mineralogical Society of America; and field trips to gem pegmatites in San Diego County
The following session topics are being considered, in two parallel tracks:
Track 1: Gemology
* Gem Treatments and Synthetics
* Gem Characterization Technology and Instrumentation
* New Gem Localities
* Geology of Gem-forming Environments
* Diamond Identification
* Colored Stone Identification
* Gemstone Inclusions
* General Gemology
Track 2: Jewelry/Business Issues 
* Gem Market Research, Economics, and Legal Issues
* Fair Trade and Environmental Issues in Gemology
* Jewelry History and Gems in Cultural Heritage
* Jewelry Manufacturing Technology
* Pearls and Organic Gems
* Color Description and Grading
The inaugural Gemological Research Conference, held in August 2006, drew more than 700 participants from 32 counties. Summaries of the 2006 GRC presentations were published in the Fall 2006 issue of Gems & Gemology and can be reviewed online (http://lgdl.gia.edu/pdfs/grc_2006.pdf).
A call for abstracts will be released later this year on the conference Web site. As in 2006, limited funds for reimbursement of travel/hotel expenses will be available to selected conference presenters who demonstrate appropriate need.

JCK