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DEPARTMENT |
Department of Cariology, Restorative Dentistry, and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, 1011 N. University Ave., Room 2353, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, USA; sbayne{at}umich.edu
Thank you, President Kuroda, Honorable Steven Robertson, fellow Board members, honored guests, special friends, and all my IADR colleagues. I think that the appropriate phrase is, "G’day, mates!" Welcome to Brisbane.
Think with me now for a moment about the "soul of the IADR".
We live in an exciting time, with incredible challenges, and among a wonderful new generation of scientists who "soon will have all the answers". Over the next few short minutes, I want to talk to you about the process by which the IADR helps these young scientists get to the answers.
This year marks the 31st consecutive time that I have presented, or participated in the presentation of, an abstract at an IADR meeting. Some of you have attended as many as 50 IADR meetings. Almost every day, I recruit new friends to become new members of the IADR. I am convinced—more than ever—of the significance of the IADR in our world and its impact on the world’s health. Yet, each time I shake a new scientist’s hand and start talking to him or her about joining, I face the age-old and immediate questions: "Why should I join the IADR? What will it do for me?"
Some of you joined the IADR because you heard, as I did, that this is a good organization. Others joined because you liked the meeting venues. Some realized that the IADR has the leading journal in dental science in the world. Still others joined because you wanted a convenient forum to present your science. Despite all those good reasons, I believe that there is a much better one. Let me illustrate.
In 1999, Gwynn Breckenridge, our Director of Meetings, and I discussed the idea of having free ice cream kiosks during the afternoon poster sessions. We calculated how many thousands of scoops we might have to distribute and about how many kiosks we might need. Suddenly, I smiled at Gwynn and said, "Ice cream is part of doing the science of discovery." We want folks to be in line long enough to meet the people in front of and behind them, talk a little bit, and reveal each other’s science. Now, hang on to this story, while I quickly relate two more.
Sally Marshall, one of our IADR Past Presidents, has worked throughout her career to create "interfaces" among different dental research areas. She initiated the IADR requirement that several Divisions or Scientific Groups sponsor a symposium. She planned the first IADR plenary sessions to introduce scientific thinking across our traditional boundaries. She experimented with the first multi-Group oral sessions. Now, let me add one more comment.
Peter Polverini, one of my newest friends, and an honoree here today, uses the word "discovery" in just about every conversation. Pete has a dream to make dental science competitively recognized in every professional forum. The word "discovery" has a special flair, and a good feeling. It is an exciting word. What does the IADR do to promote discovery? The IADR uniquely creates interfaces. And this is the real answer to the question-and part of our soul.
Why should someone join the IADR? What will it do for him or her? The answer is one you don’t realize simply by joining, but rather, by being a part of these annual meetings for many years. The IADR creates a unique network of scientists. The IADR is not single-minded in its science. We represent the richest diversity of dental research presentations. We have 23 Scientific Groups with shifting focuses and interests. When you come to an IADR meeting, you are exposed to a great breadth of thinking and energy. While you may say that you come to network with your immediate colleagues, you also indirectly network with a huge number of would-be new colleagues. You are automatically thrust into a place where there are dozens of scientific interfaces that stimulate you "to think in a different way".
We all well know that most major new events in science occur at interfaces of disciplines, where new friendships are formed, that generate new thinking and new solutions to scientific problems. In that very special circumstance, we find great discovery. We are back to that word again that Peter uses to define our research goals—"discovery".
The great value of the IADR—the real reason for belonging to this special organization—is that, in a very unique way, the IADR brings together the best scientists in dental research. It collects new faces asking new questions. It creates comfortable interfaces, where we can uniquely network and we can discover. That is "the real answer" to the question. Most other dental organizations don’t have this mix.
Over the last 31 years, the IADR has given me endless opportunities for discovery by creating exciting and new interfaces. All of you have been part of that process. I thank you all for your personal loyalty and dedication to the IADR, and, most of all, for becoming my scientific friends. I have lived the answer to this question.
Finally, as you go to the Welcome Reception momentarily, realize that this is yet another interface, and take advantage of the chance to DISCOVER new friends around you and begin to understand their science.
Thank you all, and welcome to the 84th General Session of the IADR, and also to the 1st Meeting of the Pan-Asian-Pacific Federation. "G’day, mates!"
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| IADR Journals | Advances in Dental Research ® |
| Journal of Dental Research ® | Critical Reviews (1990-2004) |
