The conduct of conferences and short courses

A large number of conferences and short courses are held throughout the world each year. Although these two important types of educational meetings bring together a great deal of technical talent, the actual transfer of information often falls far short of expectations. This paper reviews the basic functions that comprise the overall structure of these learning activities, and cites examples of specific problems. From an examination of the framework of these educational functions, a number of easily implemented and realistic guidelines are proposed for improving their quality.