Support is provided for the Eighth International Conference for Stereology, 25-30 August 1991. The conference main goals are to bring attention to the field of quantitative characterization of materials and to act as a catalyst for new methods and as a forum for new ideas. The Proceedings are to be published as a special edition of Acta Stereologica. Scientists representing several disciplines (materials science and engineering, biology, mathematics, geology) attend the conference. This brings about a valuable synergism of ideas and needs to advance the field.