Book excerpt: This symposium was dedicated to the significant and ground breaking accomplishments of Robert A. Osteryoung in the area of molten salts and ionic liquids. This symposium provided an international and interdisciplinary forum centered on innovative basic and applied research performed in molten salts and ionic liquids. Contributed papers were solicited in all areas of biology, chemistry, electrochemistry, electrochemical engineering, and physics related to molten salt research.