Closing Address

Closing Address

CLOSING ADDRESS Pieter Eykhoff Professor, Eindhoven University of Technology Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Colleagues, Again I really appr...

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CLOSING ADDRESS Pieter Eykhoff Professor, Eindhoven University of Technology

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Colleagues, Again I really appreciate the opportunity given to me to speak to you on behalf of the IFAC President . During this Symposium we had discussions about the interaction of man and nature, about industrialization which has both positive and negative effects on our society. Some slides of lithographies by the Dutch artist Escher respectively symbolize the problem, the things we want to realize and the challenge, i.e. solving problems in which it is difficult to recognize a begin and an end; - everything is related to everything else. During this Symposium many interesting contributions have been presented and it undoubtedl y has given many stimulances for further work, for new ideas and for new approaches. Also the personal contacts of scientists and engineers from many different institutions will contribute to the development of this interesting and very useful field of human endeavour.

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The organization of a symposium is a hughe task. Not only one has to take care of many big problems like deciding the site of the conference, the expected number of participants, etc. but there are many, many small things which contribute substantially to the ultimate success of a symposium. It requires a lot of experience, time, energy, and dedication to approach perfection in organizing a symposium. Remember: "trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle".

I think the organization of this symposium was done along the lines indicated in this saying. It certainly has approached perfection. On behalf of the President of IFAC I like to thank the Institutions that have contributed to that organization: - the Science Council of Japan - the Prefecture of Kyoto - the City of Kyoto the Engineering Institutes and Societies, as well as the World Environmental and Resources Council (WORC).

It is my impression that the spirit in which this symposium was organized can best be expressed by the Japanese saying that is indicated above. I like this saying so much and I find it so crucial that it is hanging permanently in my university office. As far my knowledge goes the translation is about the following:

Institutions are important and even indispensible; the work, however, is being done by people. Allow me to name a few people that have been of vital importance in the organization of this Symposium: - Professor Y. Sawaragi, Chairman, - Professor T. Takamatsu, Vice-Chairman,

"Whatever you do, do it hones tZy, that i s - with whoZe your heart - with aZZ your f orce "

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P. Eykhoff

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- Professor H. Akashi, General Secretary and all the members of the IFAC Environmental Systems Symposium Committee, - Professor M. Terao, Chairman of the National Programme Committee, - Professor Y. Oshima, Chairman of the International Programme Committee. I realize very well that this is only part and that it is impossible to name all the people who have contributed, including: - the Members of the Programme Committees, - the Assistants - the Secretaries - and all others who helped to make this event successful. In presenting a few copies of lithographies by Escher I like to underline the thanks to Professors Sawaragi, Takamatsu and Akashi. Gentlemen, IFAC is very grateful for all the work that has been done!

d6mo api goto gozaimas hita (thank you ve pY much (f op what you have done )} or in Kyoto dialect:

oki - ni (thank s)

Thanks to the authors for their presentations, thanks to the participants for their cooperation, discussion, questions and all other contributions. I think I could close this speech now, but allow me to make just one more comment. I like to emphasize that so far the IFAC National Member Organization of Japan has contributed much to IFAC. I can name the following IFAC events, organized and held in this country.

- Symposium "Systems Engineering for Control Systems Design," Tokyo, August 1965. This was the first systems-oriented symposium of IFAC; - Symposium "Systems Engineering Approach to Computer Control", Kyoto, August 1970; - Symposium "Computer Applications in the Automation of Shipyard Operation and Ship Design", Tokyo, August 1973. Again this was the first IFAC Symposium on this subject; - The symposium we just attended:"Environmental Systems Planning, Design and Control" Kyoto, August 1977; - Workshop "Urban, Regional and National Planning; Environmental Aspects", Kyoto, August 1977, which will start tomorrow; - Symposium "Information Control Problems in Manufacturing Technology", Tokyo, October 1977. Again a first symposium on this type of topic. In addition to these contributions IFAC and the control engineering community are looking forward with great interest to the IFAC Congress 1981, that will be held in this same lovely city of Kyoto. I happen t o know the excellent facilities of the Internati onal Congress-center. I am sure that our Japanese colleagues will organize this Congres s with the same care and dedication a s has been used for this Symposium. Consequently we may look forward to a perfect Congress .... It is a lot of work; the organizers will have to take many decisions and will have to solve a lot of problems. On behalf of the IFAC President let me say again that IFAC is very grateful. Ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, until we meet again

sayonapa Thank you very much for your attention. Pieter Eykho ff.