Thoughts About Last Week's Conference

> I enjoyed last week's conference. I learned some interesting new things
> and saw some old friends.

I'm very sorry I wasn't able to make it :( Next time, maybe...

> I've started to consider what we can do to change this reality. One
> idea that comes to mind is to alter the way we do our conferences. Now
> we gather for three days (and evenings), listen to talks and briefly
> discuss the research and ideas described. There are a number of
> drawbacks to this approach:
>
> * Lectures are a poor way of transmitting ideas and information.
> Better than nothing, but well short of ideal.

I've found posters to be an excellent way to exchange information, albeit
an exhausting one - you adjust your level to the people you're talking
to, and they can interrupt at any time. The downside is you only get to
talk to about 20-50 people total. The upside is that the feedback is
immediate and the audience gets the information they want without having
to sit through droning on about stuff they already understand.

> * We get too little time for discussion and interaction. What
> discussion that does occur is squeezed into breaks and meals.

Perhaps regional interest groups with more regular informal get-togethers
would be one way to improve this - at the larger meetings you could then
focus on the people you don't see as often.

[...]
> As a way of encouraging this approach, I'd like to offer myself as a
> guinea pig for this approach. I've been kicking around an idea for a
> paper the last several weeks. I think there's much we can learn from
> the post Vietnam reform of the military. NASA needs reform of at least
> the same magnitude -- and to some extent along the same lines. I'm
> willing to work with others on this paper.

I don't know how much I could contribute, but I'd certainly be willing to
try. I have to be a little circumspect since there is a possibility NASA
will either be my employer or at least paying my bills within a few
months.

......Andrew

Andrew Case
acase@...
Institute for Plasma Research
University of Maryland, College Park |