This past week at UCLA, Bill Schopf, of the IGPP Center for the Study of Evolution and the Origin of Life, convened this summit of 30 expert scientists worldwide in this area. Representing 12 nations, the scientists, many of whom had not met prior to this event, gathered to exchange ideas and learn about the latest cutting edge work, with emphasis on establishment of microfossil biogenicity and the applications of such work to Martian samples. They were also able to personally examine and assess specimens that have proved difficult to interpret, and discuss the latest imaging technologies, and unresolved problems in the field. The summit was designed to be a catalyst for future, international collaboration in the field.