The American Academy of Microbiology requests partial support from NSF to convene a colloquium, entitled "Geobiology: Exploring the Interface Between the Geosphere and the Biosphere," to be held November 30-December 3, 2000, in Tucson, Arizona. This colloquium will deliberate the relationships of the microbial world to the geosphere and the biosphere from several perspectives. The field will be defined in breadth and scope. A list of urgent scientific questions will be the basis for in-depth analysis of the intellectual, economic, and social issues. Technological, educational, and communication issues also will be addressed, along with specific scientific problems. The results will be summarized in a comprehensive report to serve as guidelines for future development of the field.
