The full exploitation of astrophysical spectra requires molecular data relevant to the physical and chemical processes that occur in astronomical objects. Toward this end, the scientific community has undertaken major efforts in recent years, both experimental and theoretical. In this workshop, we will bring together scientists from the molecular astrophysics and physical chemistry communities. There have been many studies of the spectroscopic signatures, chemical reactions, gas-surface interactions, and collisional energy transfer processes of molecules detected in space. Much of this work has not been motivated by astrophysics. Exposing chemists to the issues raised by the astrophysical community will be one goal of the proposed workshop. A second, parallel goal, will be to increase astronomers’ awareness of the capabilities and limitations of the methods developed by experimental and theoretical chemists. The informality of a Telluride workshop will facilitate this cross disciplinary interaction. Similar interactions have already proven to be invaluable in the field of combustion.

An important outcome will be the discussion of what new studies need to be done on modelling chemical processes involving interstellar molecules and the exploration of what molecular data are currently missing that are crucially needed for astrophysical modelling.