This conference celebrates, quite generally, the legacy of Arthur Ashkin, whose early work on optical trapping has spawned enormous productivity and enhancement of fundamental knowledge across the sciences. Optical trapping has deepened our understanding of nano-scale molecular motors, helped unravel the mechanics of DNA and cells, and had far reaching impact on studies of statistical mechanics, soft condensed matter and hydrodynamic interactions. Novel sample syntheses are now providing unusual and powerful systems to manipulate with optical traps. Fundamental studies investigating the nature of the momentum of light offer tantalizing possibilities for harnessing counter-intuitive properties of light-mater interactions. Biological studies of single molecules have been enhanced with the establishment of optical force calibrations which now extend down to the 20 fN range, while optical torques have been calibrated down to 4 fN-microns. New applications continue to appear, for example as optical trapping is fused with other techniques such as Raman spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Integrating optical micro-manipulation with microfluidic platforms is a current hot topic in the field. Investigations into particle dynamics on extended optical landscapes offer a uniquely valuable model of thermodynamic systems, and have been examined to study stochastic resonance, crystal nucleation, and optical binding, among others. 

Each year this conference draws well over one hundred presentations and an even larger number of participants. The poster sessions take place with sufficient room and degree of refreshment to ensure an excellent level of interaction. Notably, this conference which is now in its 13th year, has sustained a truly international character. The proceedings of the conference contains a large collection of relevant papers, making a valuable contribution to the field.