Supramolecular Structure and Function 9

The frontiers in scientific research are difficult to define. Nowadays the new knowledge depends not only on new methods and concepts but also on the interaction with other fields of research. Biophysics offers a rational language for discussion among scientists of different disciplines. This is the general philosophy behind the organization of the Summer Schools organized by Rudjer Boskovi ? Institute, Zagreb, Croatia and the Croatian Biophysical Society from 1981 on each third year. Internationally recognized and successfully established nine international summer schools have been organized under the title Supramolecular Structure and Function . The International Summer Schools on Biophysics have a very broad scope devoted to the structure-function relationship of biological macromolecules and to mayor biophysical techniques. The int- tion is to organize courses which provide advanced training at doctoral or postdoctoral level in biosciences. Sixteen main contributions presented here by prominent lecturers illustrate the principals, concepts and methods of b- physics coupled with molecular biology approaches. Since the great diversity of topics the book should be of interest for scientists of different disciplines as was the audience at the School.