An exciting program, held in Satna Cruz, California, brought together scientists across disciplines to explore the long-overdue application of biophysical methods in genomics, emphasizing structural and functional aspects of genome and transcriptome dynamics. The program covered a wide range of topics including: extremophile genomes, highly compact genomes, circular and micro RNAs, DNA viruses and viroids, just to name a few. The program featured 26 invited speakers, 10 short talks selected from contributed posters, and 22 contributed posters. Over 60 participants from around the world were in attendance to share and discuss their ideas.