nasa boring meetings

NASA: boring meetings

Ok, this one is so weird, that it has got to be true.

I am informed, anecdotally, but from someone who ought to know, that:

NASA will no longer sponsor science meetings at "resort locations"!

It is not clear to me if this is specific to one or some divisions

within the Science Missions Directorate, or if it is agency wide, but

either way it is a stupid idea.

At least one meeting in Hawaii has already been cancelled, allegedly

because of this new policy. At a very substantial cost to the

organisers because of lost deposits, by the way.

This is stupid for many reasons, not the least of which is that

essentially all of Hawaii is a "resort location" by any definition

(and, no, I do not know what definition is being used), and Hawaii is

a good location for astro and space meetings. For one thing it is one

of the few places where you can actually see the stars.

I would think the good Senators from Hawaii would have something to

say about this, it will cost Hawaii and the University of Hawaii

plenty.

However. Scientists get really jaded about meetings. There are a lot

of them.

To get people fired up and to the meetings it helps to have them in

interesting locations. It is not necessary, it just helps.

But, interesting locations are also where a lot of hotels and

conference facilties are found. Universities are also often at

interesting locations.

Stupid. Stupid enough it almost has to be true.