The Informal Meeting initially started as an Italian meeting, then became an Italo-Hungarian conference, and is now an international conference series in the field of mass spectrometry. About 120 scientists from 18 different countries participated at the latest meeting, presenting 45 lectures and 58 posters. In the present issue of JMS, we have collected a representative cross section of the presentations. The 'best poster' prize was given to László Drahos, for the presentation "Thermal Energy Distribution Observed in Electrospray Ionization", which is published in this issue of JMS.
True to its name, the meeting was held in a very friendly and informal atmosphere. Although most of the participants were already known to each other, such an environment is also an excellent place to meet new colleagues. Most importantly, it provides an opportunity for students to talk to senior scientists in an informal setting. In addition to the lecture and poster sessions, there was also ample time for individual interactions and discussions, one of the most important aspects of a good conference. Beautiful mountain scenery, typical Italian hospitality and superb cuisine, and plenty of excellent wine all contributed to the success of the meeting.
I would like to take this opportunity to announce the next Informal Meeting, which will be held in Prague (Czech Republic), between the 1st and 3rd of May, 2000.