Perhaps the reason is finance—met in Berlin by the City's Senate, the Stifterver-band fur die Deutsche Wissenschaft (a foundation supported by German trade and industry), and the Deutsche For-schunsgemeinschaft (the German Science Foundation). Add up the costs of planning meetings by an international program advisory committee of eight to 10 scientists, travel and stylish accommodations for 40 participants, plus such delights as a concert by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and it's clear that Dahlem Konferenzen are not cheap.
But while richly enjoyable, these are not occasions for leisurely contemplation. Their prime mover, Silke Bernhard, has evolved a structure that wou1d make it very difficult for participants not to pull their weight. Dahlem topics are divided into four subthemes, aspects of which are reviewed initially in papers prepared by group members. All participants receive these papers before setting off for Berlin, their comments and questions being circulated during the conference. After ...
