Look at the questions below and then read the passage to find the answers. Read as quickly as you can and do not worry about anything except the answers you need to find.

If you happen to receive foreign guests on the premises of your Insti-tute, what are the words to address them? You may say the following:

It is a great honour for this institution to receive here scientists who have made such a great contribution to scientific knowledge in their field. I have no doubt that the interchange of ideas during your visit will prove to be profitable to us all.

You are at this Institute for the first time, so I would like to say a few words about it.

Our academic traditions could be traced back to 1956, when this In-stitute was founded with Academician N. at its head. Today, with more than 2000 research scientists, technicians and supporting personnel utiliz-ing our laboratory and pilot plant facilities in search of scientific truth as well as new techniques, it is accurate to describe this Institution as a pow-erful organization.

The various objectives of the Institute include practical application of the Institute’s scientific discoveries, research and development schemes, professional training. There are plans for further construction of scientific facilities. The Institute maintains a research library and publishes a journal.

Our Institute has made numerous discoveries, of which not a few are certainly important. The really noteworthy ones are well-known and have made their authors famous. Among our scientists are eminent men with

remarkable achievements to their name. They have won the Lenin and State Prizes for their work.

Our international links ensure active participation in the progress of science worldwide. This is a desirable situation for it is the universal lan-guage of science and technology that knows no international barriers and leads to the good, plentiful, and peaceful life.

NOTES

technician: a highly qualified specialist not doing research;supporting personnel: staff members who assist researchers in their

investigations;

to utilize laboratory facilities: to make good use of the laboratoryequipment;

pilot plant facilities: machinery used at an experimental plant;scientific facilities: all the equipment which is necessary for success-

ful research;

a research and development scheme: a plan or project for researchand its implementation;

a research library: a library housing scientific and technical litera-ture in the field;

a noteworthy discovery: a discovery which deserves to be noted;a well-known discovery: a discovery known to many;

a famous scientist: a scientist who is well-known;an eminent scientist: a distinguished scientist;remarkable achievements: important achievements;

the universal language of science and technology: the languagewhich is understood by all scientists.

Questions to the text:

1. How do you address foreign guests if you happen to receive them at your institution?

2. Is it advisable to speak about academic traditions?

3. What do international scientific links ensure?

SCIENTIFIC GATHERINGS

Look at the questions below and then read the passage to find the an-swers. Read as quickly as you can and do not worry about anything except the answers you need to find.

1) How do scientists coordinate research?

2) When do scientists usually get an opportunity to share and ex-change opinions and information?

3) What are the benefits of informal contacts?

4) What are the aims of laboratory and institute colloquiums?

5) What opportunities does a laboratory colloquium provide? Scientific gatherings play an important part in coordinating research.

National and international conferences and symposia in all fields of sci-ence and the humanities are held regularly all over the world. Plenary ses-sions and section meetings, seminars and workshops give scientists an op-portunity to share and exchange opinions and information, to verify their scientific ideas, and to advocate their views. The participants present their papers and listen to papers and reports read by others on the latest devel-opments and the state of the art in their field. They can take part in the dis-cussions that follow and express their point of view.

No less important for the participants are informal contacts with their colleagues from other research centres, when a scientist can unhurriedly discuss a given problem with an expert in his field, argue with his scien-tific opponent, find out the details of some experimental procedure. The best opportunity for personal contacts is provided by social events.

Another type of a scientific meeting is the laboratory or institute col-loquium where members of the staff and guest speakers make reviews of the developments in the field and report the progress of their research. Their successes and failures are thoroughly discussed. The speakers expect criticism or approval, advice and help. The colloquium gives an opportu-nity to evaluate the place and importance of one’s effort in science, it im-proves the capacity to criticize one’s own work, admit error and respect the point of view of others. It provides a personal exchange of views which is essential for any science student.

NOTES

to hold a conference: to hold a meeting for interchanging views;symposium: a conference at which a particular topic is discussed by

various speakers;

seminar: a discussion group on any particular subject;

workshop: a seminar emphasizing exchange of ideas and practicalmethods;

colloquium: a meeting for discussion;

event: an item in a programme of a scientific gathering; a scientificprogramme includes such events as plenary sessions, section meetings, seminars, workshops, round-table talks, etc.;

a social programme includes such events as dinners, receptions, ex-cursions, tours, etc.;

the state of the art: the level or position at a given time, especiallyat present, of generally accepted and available knowledge, technical achievement in a particular field;

the humanities: the branches of learning concerned with literature,history, philosophy, etc.