Preface to ISBC XIII Proceedings Special Issue 'Energetics of adaptation and development: from molecular mechanisms to clinical practice'

The thirteenth conference of the International Society for Biological Calorimetry took place in the village of Veitshöchheim, close to Würzburg in the Lower Franconian region of Germany on 27 September to 1 October 2003. In preparing this conference, the Organising Committee made some decisions that moved ISBC into new territory. First, it was decided to place the emphasis of the conference in a precise direction by giving it a challenging, specific title. This was not to exclude anyone from our meeting, but to make clear what type of calorimetry will be primarily (although not exclusively) the subject. Moreover, whereas static measurement of resting energy turnover might seem a trifle old-fashioned, studying the energetics of adaptational or developmental processes remains a continuous challenge for our field. As a result, we were able to welcome a number of participants who (possibly prompted by this main heading) join our meetings for the first time, and who gave a fresh impetus to our common field of interest.