MRS meetings: shorter and sweeter?

[Christopher Blanford]

So today, we're purportedly just over halfway through the MRS meeting, but there's been the predictable drop in attendees. There's always a peak on Monday (and it's still very well attended on Tuesday), but by Wednesday a lot of folks have apparently gone home or are doing other things. The quality of the speakers in still high and there are still important and entertaining invited speakers, but there are fewer people listening. By tomorrow, the packed rooms I commented on earlier will have an echo off the empty chairs.

This brings me to my question: should the meeting just end on Wednesday?

This would involve fewer talks or longer days, both have disadvantages.

The first option gets rid of something I love about the MRS meetings: it's like a buffet for ideas, where you get a little of everything. And I think it's great that grads and postdocs get an opportunity to talk about what they've been slaving over -- just deserts, I think.

The second option would lead to a bit of "idea indigestion" at the MRS buffet and curtails the networking opportunities and chances to catch up with colleagues.

So, I think we're stuck with the length, but I wonder what we could do to keep delegates around longer.