Mineralized tissues are widespread in natural organisms, mainly in the form of exo- and endoskeletons, teeth, spicules and more. Amorphous minerals are present in such tissues either in a (meta-)stable form, or as precursors for crystalline minerals. This latter possibility has proved to be widespread in invertebrates, and possibly in vertebrates as well. It constitutes a new paradigm in the field of biomineralization. The chemistry and the thermodynamics of crystallisation are poorly understood in these biological systems. It is known, however, that inorganic inhomogeneities (such as replacement of calcium by magnesium) as well as the interaction with organic molecules play an important role. (Charged) organic (macro-) molecules are known to interact with ions to prevent nucleation, as well as with crystal surfaces to prevent or to direct growth. It is not unlikely that they also play a major role in stabilizing amorphous phases.

The physics of amorphous solids have been developed substantially in recent years, leading to a physical understanding of the glass transition as well as the physical origin of the stability of certain (polymeric or inorganic) glasses. While metallic glasses have traditionally been considered unstable except in rapidly quenched thin films, bulk amorphous metals have been discovered in the last decades.

The goal of the summer school is to bring together the quite distinct communities in glass physics and in biomineralisation to learn from each other. Students and researchers in the field of biomineralization should learn the basics of glass physics to be able to apply these concepts for a better understanding of how biological organisms might stabilize amorphous minerals or use them as precursors for controlled crystallization. In the context of biomimetic materials science, students in the field of glass physics should learn about the wide variety of amorphous phases found in biological systems and about their functions. In particular, the possible role of additives, both organic and inorganic, to the stabilization of inorganic glasses shall be explored.