The Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB) has sponsored summer research conferences since 1982. The intent was to emphasize areas not covered by annual or biannual Gordon Research Conferences and to stress multidisciplinary approaches to problems to best represent the constituent member societies of FASEB. The format and venues of these conferences are conducive to scientific exchange, and prompt ready and direct scientific discussions. The 1989 meeting will feature 9 scientific sessions on diverse areas of calcium research, and is the only US meeting devoted entirely to calcium related events. The topics for discussion include: hormonal regulation of calcium homeostasis, calcium regulation in excitable cells, calcium release mechanisms, calcium regulation of smooth muscle, calcium and the protein phosphorylation cycle, calcium in growth and development, novel calcium control mechanisms, genetic analysis of calcium function (including studies in Drosophila, yeasts, fungi, paramecium, and transgenic mice), and structure and function of calcium binding proteins. This conference should contribute greatly to the progress of basic research on this important subject.