Clusters are steadily growing in importance, both as the subjects of basic research covering the gap between single atoms and macroscopic condensed matter, and for materials science as tools for the preparation of surfaces with specially designed properties.
The International Symposia on Small Particles and Inorganic Clusters (ISSPIC) have for a substantial numnber of years constituted the main fora for discussions of the latest developments in cluster physics and chemistry. The eighth symposium in the series, which took place in Copenhagen in July 1996, was no exception to the trend. 1996 was an important year for cluster research as the maturity of the field was recognized internationally through the award of the chemistry Nobel prize for fullerene research. These proceedings from the Copenhagen symposium update the field right up to the time of the prize award.