The Life Cycle of Dust in the Universe: Observations, Theory, and Laboratory Experiments

　This meeting aims to address the life cycle of dust in the Universe, which covers the formation, evolution and destruction of dust in a range of environments, ranging from the smallest to the largest scales. Bringing together observational and theoretical astrophysicists as well as meteoriticists and experimentalists will allow for a cross-disciplinary dialogue. 　　The meeting follows a successful tradition of astrophysical dust meetings, starting in Albany in 1972, with the latest edition "Cosmic Dust: Near and Far" organized by Th. Henning taking place in Heidelberg in 2008. 　　Since that meeting, the field of dust astrophysics has made major leaps forward with the hoist of data arriving from such missions as the infrared space telescopes Spitzer, Herschel, and Stardust, the latter returning dust samples from comet Wild-2 currently being studied in the lab. The largest telescope on Earth, ALMA, has recently come online, allowing for investigations into the origin of dust in the Universe. Thus, this is an excellent time to review the status of the field of dust astrophysics in this meeting. 　　The meeting aims to create an environment in which all aspects of the life cycle of dust will be discussed, from an astrophysical, chemical and mineralogical perspective, and the effect on a range of environments. Observational insights, theoretical models and experimental approaches all contribute to our view of the life cycle of dust, and the meeting will address new developments and future projects in all these areas.