Echinodermata have a rich fossil record, play major ecological roles in marine benthic communities from the intertidal to the deep sea, have economic importance in fisheries and aquaculture, show unique biological characteristics and have become important models in biomedical research.These proceedings of the 12th International Echinoderm Conference (Durham, New Hampshire, USA, 7-11 August 2006) includes recent advances made in research of echinoderms, and is organized into six sections:Paleontology; Systematics and Morphology; Physiology and Nutrition; Development, Molecular and Genetics; Fisheries and Aquaculture; Ecology and Environmental Studies