The unprecedented speed of recent scientific progress makes personal interactions between colleagues more important than ever. This is reflected in the growing number of meetings, ranging from small, highly specialized research conferences to large conventions with many facets, including a job market. Unfortunately though, many meetings are marred by major flaws that could have been avoided by expert advice. Of these, the most common ones stem from an underestimation of the necessary time and resources. Serious problems are almost certain when societies persuade inexperienced colleagues to run major meetings. In some cases, the participants will never learn of these problems. In other cases, tactful participants will not tell the organizer about them. Thus, a tradition of mistakes is often perpetuated.

This book cannot guarantee successful meetings. However, it should help to reduce avoidable problems. The author has had many years to make mistakes, and he has availed himself of this opportunity, as will be obvious from personal experiences given throughout the text. He apologizes for this lack of modesty. On the other hand, he often refrained from rubbing salt into the wounds of colleagues, tempting though it was. May this kindness induce them to buy, and not just borrow, this useful publication.