Includes bibliographical references (pages 83-85).

"Summarizes presentations and discussions at a 2010 National Academies roundtable. Speakers at this roundtable discussed the crucial types of information that need to be determined about small particles in different media. They also explored the critical importance of small particles in environmental science, materials and chemical sciences, biological science, and engineering, and the many challenges involved in characterizing materials at the nano- and microscales. The discussions on characterization included static, dynamic, experimental, computational, and theoretical characterization. The workshop also included several 'research tool' presentations that highlighted new advances in characterizing small particles."--Publisher's web site. Overview -- What are small particles and why are they important? -- Analysis and imaging of small particles -- Analyzing nanoparticles in complex mixtures -- Modeling and simulation of small particles -- Workshop wrap-up session.