A Fine Balance

The value of the Gordon Research Conference series is its fine balance among various scientific fields, between pure re-search and application, between experts and newcomers, and between scientific discussion and free time for afternoons on the lawn or tennis courts and boisterous, convivial evenings in the bar.

I have attended more Gordon Conferences than I can easily remember: everything from Magnetic Resonance, to Mag-netic Resonance in Medicine and Biology, to Isotope Effects, to Inorganic Chemistry. The variety of conferences I have attended has helped me learn about my own field, meet its leaders, and appreciate new, peripheral fields with a glimpse into the inner thoughts (and backhands) of their practitioners. This exposure has helped stimulate new thoughts and bolster my confidence in my ability to understand the “cutting edge” in new fields.

Long, lazy summer afternoons framed the intense morning sessions, providing experiences that all scientific meetings should procure. I shall always treasure my memories of Gordon Conferences and the glow they cast over the rest of the year.