Read the text and answer the question you will find there.

SMOOTH AND EFFICIENT RUNNING

Conferences play a great part in achieving coordinated work. How are they organized? Usually they are sponsored by the cent­ral scientific organizations, whose tasks include the planning of meetings of researchers. An organizing committee is set up which decides where and when a conference should be held. Hundreds of invitations are sent out to organizations interested in the topics to be discussed, together with requests to submit appli­cations and abstracts of papers. Depending on the number of pa­pers, a conference may last from two to ten days. Papers on ge­neral topics are read before all the participants, those dealing with specific problems are presented at meetings of sections.

After all, a conference is convened to hear the papers presen­ted. That is certainly so. But if it were not for the possibility of meeting colleagues to verify your scientific ideas, for the tempta­tion of unhurried discussions with likeminded people, the desire to pick a fight with a scientific opponent, expose his mistakes and show your success, then conferences would lose their attraction, and their usefulness would be reduced to a minimum.

4.8. DISCUSSION. Discuss the following in class, giving your COMMENTS /ARGUMENTS.

1. I have no doubt and hope you would agree that scientific gatherings play an important part in the life of scientists. What in your view are the main goals of a scientific gathering?

2. There exist various gatherings of people of science. Among the big events you may name a congress, a conference, or a symposium. And what about the small gatherings, the ones you usually hold at your institute? Which could you name? How are they organized?

3. If you remember any conference you happened to attend, perhaps, you could tell me what the participants usually do there? What procedures are observed? What impressions did you have?

4. There is no doubt that scientific gatherings help scientists to follow the developments in their fields. There is also periodic literature that they follow. And what about informal contacts, do you think they are of some importance?

5. It is common knowledge that many scientists prefer informal contacts. What about you?

6. Speaking about laboratory seminars and colloquiums, do you think they are useful forms of communication for researchers? Which do you prefer, international gatherings, with many people to speak with and listen to, or division /section /laboratory seminar, where the atmosphere is more relax?

7. Would you recall one of your lab seminars as an example and tell me how work is done there? Do you often deliver papers or give a talk? Describe the manner in which the seminar leader runs the seminar?

8. What are the qualities that help you to be a successful speaker /presenter?

9. What do you think may add to the attraction of a conference?

10. No doubt, you know about conferences held in your field of science. Could you say what Institutes sponsored them and what topics were chosen for discussion?

11. Besides scientific events — section meetings, workshops, labo­ratory tours, round-table talks, etc. — the organizing commit­tee usually provides a social program for the participants. What events does this program usually include and what is the purpose of such an element? What would you like to see in the program?

12. If you were a member of the organizing committee of the host country /institute in Ukraine, what social program would you draw up for the participants? Give your arguments and comments.

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 809