Summary

Extract

The quantity of scientific work in the area of astrochemistry is now enormous, and this meeting - in attempting to cover most of the aspects of our subject - has had problems in coping with it due to difficulty of reviewing very active, broad areas in a limited time. At this meeting we have had almost 40 hours of formal and informal discussion, and about 45 oral presentations at which I estimate that about 1500 transparencies and slides have been projected for our enlightenment. About 100 posters have been presented in three sessions. The posters were uniformly of a high standard and generated a great deal of interest and discussion. I think the prominence given in the programme to the posters has been particularly successful. The range of activity, and the enthusiasm with which it is pursued, demonstrate that astrochemistry is in a vigorous state. It has its own intrinsic interest, and in its present maturity is now making substantial contributions to understanding in astronomy.