Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T21:35:23.069Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Summary Lecture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2017

Robert J. Rutten*
Affiliation:
Sterrekundig Instituut, Postbus 80000, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

I have found four models in the literature for doing conference summaries:

  1. 1. The Literal Summary.

    One summarizes all t h a t has been presented, preferably interspersed with comments as “of particular interest was…”.

  2. 2. The Historical Perspective.

    One places all (or some) presentations within a historical background, preferably implying that science progresses smoothly in well-planned, orderly fashion.

  3. 3. The Future Perspective.

    One points out the way to go, preferably in overly optimistic vein.

  4. 4. The personal Impressions.

    One concedes lack of wisdom to forego balanced summarizing, prefering to discuss primarily one's own interests.

Which model to choose here? Literal summarizing seems superfluous for the oral presentations. They are printed in the preceding pages, each is effectively a summary of work published elsewhere, and many have an author's summary already. It won't be useful to summarize them here once more, but some perspective may be worthwhile.

Type
VIII. Future Directions
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1990