The beginnings of this second international colloquium on Astronomy Teaching, eight years after the famous one in Williamstown, came during a meeting of Commission 46 in August 1994, in the Hague. It was then submitted as an IAU Colloquium by the President of Commission 46, John Percy, with the support of the newly born European Association for Astronomy Education.

When I was asked to chair the Scientific Organising Committee, I considered this proposal to be a great honour, that I acknowledge, and also an exciting way to learn more about the new developments in astronomy education that you are performing, so many of you, all around the world.

Then came a hard work! Step by step the programme was built, thanks to the help and suggestions from the SOC members, and I would like to mention more particularly Julieta Fierro, Andy Fraknoi, Barrie Jones, Derek McNally, John Percy.

It was my great pleasure, each day, to read your mails on my computer, or on the fax machine a pleasure mixed with some increasing anxiety, when their number began to grow rapidly! The Internet gives this beautiful possibility to interact so easily with people spread out all over the world – you have just to take account of the time zones, which could be also considered as a good astronomical exercise.