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Note on the experimental nature and organization of the symposium
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Annex 1 NOTE ON THE EXPERIMENTAL NATURE AND ORGANIZATION SYMPOSIUM
OF THE
The second symposium of the Royal Netherlands Land Development Society (Koninklijke Nederlandsche Heide Maatschappij) and Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company had the same experimental character as the symposium Cycling of Mineral Nutrients in Agricultural Ecosystems, held in 1976 (Frissel, 1978). One of the objectives of the Royal Netherlands Land Development Society is to plan meetings of scientific research workers aiming to contribute to a better management of the physical environment. Elsevier thinks that symposia are a good opportunity to experiment on the possible ways in which the communication of scientific information through international conferences and conference proceedings might be improved. A synopsis of the character of the symposium is presented below, as it is felt that this will help the reader to understand and interpret the scientific symposium report presented by this volume. The choice of the symposium theme was influenced by considerations of two different kinds: (a) methodological questions, relating to the efficiency of information transfer through symposia and symposium proceedings, and dealing, amongst others, with: .- the optimum balance between pre-circulated information, lectures, and discussions in groups and plenary sessions; - making the best possible use of the knowledge, experience and intellectual creativity incorporated in an interdisciplinary group of symposium participants; - alternative means of recording and publishing of symposium results; improvements might increase both the value and the readability of the collected information, particularly for those readers who did not participate in the meeting; (b) scientific concern about such questions as: - the need for water problems to be dealt with by several disciplines, including both physical as well as social disciplines, - water as a basic problem in the management of urban areas, - insufficient instruments for ecological planning with respect to urban water problems. During the symposium week as much time as possible was reserved for discussions. The latter took place in small working groups, which prepared written reports that were multiplied and discussed in summary-type general sessions. The general issues and questions were discussed at the symposium which led to new data and corrections on the theme itself and the structure of the final text.
350
Authors were subsequently requested to carry out certain assignments upon their return home, which unfortunately not everyone did. After the meeting, the editors prepared a revised draft, taking into account gaps signalled during the symposium and re-submissions received from authors, but also the reports and comments of the symposium discussions. The composition of the editing team was another experiment. Given the fact that original text-writing was needed in addition to editing submitted material, one editor could not nearly cover the wide scope of the symposium. Division of work between two editors solved part of the problem, but introduced defects like non-uniformity in terminology, uneven synchronization and inconsistencies in definitions and interlinkage of text parts. This required extra effort to remove some shortcomings. The final result no doubt still reflects the fact that the symposium was an experiment. Evaluation studies indicate that the tested conference method is basically useful and valuable, but can still be improved in several respects (Hendriks and Manten, 1976). The organizers are indebted to the editors and authors for their sportsmanship in so positively collaborating in the experiment. It is hoped that despite shortcomings in the final scientific report, this will appear useful and that it will also encourage the preparation of follow-up work.
REFERENCES Hendriks, J.A.H. and Manten, A.A., 1976. Congresseren elementair getoetst. Intermediair, 12(50): l-7,17. Frissel, M.J., 1978. Cycling of Mineral Nutrients in Agricultural Ecosystems. First International Environmental Symposium of the Royal Netherlands Land Development Society (Koninklijke Nederlandsche Heide Maatschappij), 31 May-4 June 1976, Amsterdam; co-sponsored by the International Association for Ecology (INTECOL) and Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company. Developments of Agricultural and ManagedForest Ecology, Vol. 3. Elsevier, Amsterdam/Oxford/New York, 356 pp. Reprinted from Agro-Ecosystems, Vol. 4, Nos. 1, 2, November 1977.
Annex 1 NOTE ON THE EXPERIMENTAL NATURE AND ORGANIZATION SYMPOSIUM
OF THE
The second symposium of the Royal Netherlands Land Development Society (Koninklijke Nederlandsche Heide Maatschappij) and Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company had the same experimental character as the symposium Cycling of Mineral Nutrients in Agricultural Ecosystems, held in 1976 (Frissel, 1978). One of the objectives of the Royal Netherlands Land Development Society is to plan meetings of scientific research workers aiming to contribute to a better management of the physical environment. Elsevier thinks that symposia are a good opportunity to experiment on the possible ways in which the communication of scientific information through international conferences and conference proceedings might be improved. A synopsis of the character of the symposium is presented below, as it is felt that this will help the reader to understand and interpret the scientific symposium report presented by this volume. The choice of the symposium theme was influenced by considerations of two different kinds: (a) methodological questions, relating to the efficiency of information transfer through symposia and symposium proceedings, and dealing, amongst others, with: .- the optimum balance between pre-circulated information, lectures, and discussions in groups and plenary sessions; - making the best possible use of the knowledge, experience and intellectual creativity incorporated in an interdisciplinary group of symposium participants; - alternative means of recording and publishing of symposium results; improvements might increase both the value and the readability of the collected information, particularly for those readers who did not participate in the meeting; (b) scientific concern about such questions as: - the need for water problems to be dealt with by several disciplines, including both physical as well as social disciplines, - water as a basic problem in the management of urban areas, - insufficient instruments for ecological planning with respect to urban water problems. During the symposium week as much time as possible was reserved for discussions. The latter took place in small working groups, which prepared written reports that were multiplied and discussed in summary-type general sessions. The general issues and questions were discussed at the symposium which led to new data and corrections on the theme itself and the structure of the final text.
350
Authors were subsequently requested to carry out certain assignments upon their return home, which unfortunately not everyone did. After the meeting, the editors prepared a revised draft, taking into account gaps signalled during the symposium and re-submissions received from authors, but also the reports and comments of the symposium discussions. The composition of the editing team was another experiment. Given the fact that original text-writing was needed in addition to editing submitted material, one editor could not nearly cover the wide scope of the symposium. Division of work between two editors solved part of the problem, but introduced defects like non-uniformity in terminology, uneven synchronization and inconsistencies in definitions and interlinkage of text parts. This required extra effort to remove some shortcomings. The final result no doubt still reflects the fact that the symposium was an experiment. Evaluation studies indicate that the tested conference method is basically useful and valuable, but can still be improved in several respects (Hendriks and Manten, 1976). The organizers are indebted to the editors and authors for their sportsmanship in so positively collaborating in the experiment. It is hoped that despite shortcomings in the final scientific report, this will appear useful and that it will also encourage the preparation of follow-up work.
REFERENCES Hendriks, J.A.H. and Manten, A.A., 1976. Congresseren elementair getoetst. Intermediair, 12(50): l-7,17. Frissel, M.J., 1978. Cycling of Mineral Nutrients in Agricultural Ecosystems. First International Environmental Symposium of the Royal Netherlands Land Development Society (Koninklijke Nederlandsche Heide Maatschappij), 31 May-4 June 1976, Amsterdam; co-sponsored by the International Association for Ecology (INTECOL) and Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company. Developments of Agricultural and ManagedForest Ecology, Vol. 3. Elsevier, Amsterdam/Oxford/New York, 356 pp. Reprinted from Agro-Ecosystems, Vol. 4, Nos. 1, 2, November 1977.