Feeding frenzy

“A meeting without food,” to mutilate an old Italian proverb, “is like life without love”—“come la vita senza l'amore.” For how can we absorb and assimilate so much science without the benefit of at least an elegant opening reception with some facilitative high energy precursors?

On the old continent of Europe such scientific meetings are often held in picturesque places replete with history, tradition, and ancient ruins. The opening ceremony begins with speeches of varying brevity and languages, by …