TWELVE prominent authorities in gemology and related disciplines will headline GIA¡¦s first Gemological Research Conference, being held in San Diego, California, August 26¡V27, 2006, just prior to the 4th International Gemological Symposium, August 27¡V29.$$The keynote presentations will provide critical reviews and highlight the latest innovations and developments in gemology as they relate to the themes of the six conference sessions. Eight additional speakers for each session will be selected from submitted abstracts.$$¡§The conference will include 60 oral presentations that will explore the most recent technical developments in gemology,¡¨ director of GIA Research and co-chair Dr James E. Shigley said. ¡§Opening the conference to scientists from various disciplines provides a wider range of perspectives.¡¨ Additional gemological research will be presented in a Poster Session. The GIA Gemological Research Conference keynote speakers, and the subjects of their presentations, are listed below for each session theme.

Geology of Gem Deposits$$ƒÜ Dr Jeff Harris, University of Glasgow, UK ¡X Diamond occurrence and evolution $$ƒÜ Dr David London, University of Oklahoma, Norman ¡X Geochemical cycles of gem-forming elements: What it takes to make tourmaline, beryl, topaz, spodumene, and other pegmatitic gems$$Gem Characterization Techniques$$ƒÜ Dr George Rossman, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif. ¡X Characterization of nanofeatures in gem materials$$ƒÜ Dr Emmanuel Fritsch, IMN, University of Nantes, France ¡X A forecast of important techniques in gemology over the next 10 years$$New Gem Localities$$ƒÜ Dr Lawrence Snee, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colo. ¡X Mapping of gem localities in Afghanistan and Pakistan$$ƒÜ Dr Federico Pezzotta, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milan, Italy ¡X An update on gem localities in Madagascar%%Gem Synthesis$$ƒÜ Dr James Butler, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC ¡X Growth of CVD synthetic diamond$$ƒÜ Dr Ichiro Sunagawa, Tokyo, Japan ¡X Growth, morphology, and perfection of single crystals: Basic concepts in discriminating natural from synthetic gemstones$$ General Gemology$$ƒÜ Shane McClure, GIA Gem Laboratory, Carlsbad, Calif. ¡X Genetic source type classification of gem corundum$$ƒÜ Menahem Sevdermish, Advanced Quality A.C.C. Ltd., Ramat Gan, Israel ¡X Color communication: The analysis of color in gem materials$$Diamond and Corundum Treatments$$Ken Scarratt, GIA Research, Bangkok, Thailand ¡X Corundum treatments$$ƒÜ Dr Mark Newton, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK ¡X Diamond treatments$$ Researchers who wish to present information at the GIA Gemological Research Conference (whether orally or in the Poster Session) should send an abstract for consideration by March 1, 2006.