Clays and environment at the 14th International Clay Conference Preface

The 14 International Clay Conference, the quadrennial meeting of the International Association for the Study of Clays (AIPEA; Association Internationale pour l'Etude des Argiles) was organized around eight topics focused on cutting edge sciences. This meeting in Castellaneta Marina, Taranto, Italy (June 14–20, 2009) brought together the most relevant group of clay senior scientists, young researchers and students ever to occur. They were involved in 43 sessions ranging from clay mineralogy to nanomaterials via bioclays as well as the origin of life, soil sciences, etc.