The Gordon Research Conference on Motile and Contractile Systems is one of the leading meetings devoted to the study of dynamic cytoskeletal systems. This year the meeting will focus on cytoskeletal dynamics from single molecules to motile organisms. There have been remarkable new developments in the field, made possible by structural studies of complex molecular machines, the application of high-resolution single molecule techniques to reconstituted systems, and new developments in intracellular and in vivo imaging that together allow the determination of molecular mechanisms driving cytoskeletal dynamics in biological contexts. The application of engineering concepts has provided new paradigms and new methods to test these ideas, and mathematical modeling has begun to offer cohesive views on how the stochastic interactions of individual molecules can lead to the complex assemblies and elegant dynamics of the cellular cytoskeleton. Biological questions of interest include cell division, intracellular transport and trafficking, cell-matrix connections, development, and cell motility. The 2013 meeting will bring together outstanding investigators in cell biology, biophysics, engineering and mathematics to focus on issues related to cytoskeletal assembly, structure, organization, and function. Invited speakers will focus on new, unpublished work at the forefront of their fields, with many talks emphasizing multi-disciplinary approaches. These speakers include both established experts who have made fundamental contributions, and more junior researchers developing novel techniques to address key issues. Platform sessions will also include presentations chosen from the abstracts in order to include the most up-to-date science in the field, and to further encourage the active participation of junior scientists. There will be a strong emphasis on lively discussion following each talk. The poster sessions will also provide a collegial atmosphere favoring informal scientific exchanges, leading to the development of new ideas and new collaborations.