Star Forming Regions

The idea to hold a Symposium on Star Forming Regions in Japan, be­ fore or after the New Delhi General Assembly of the IAU, originated in 1981. One of the main reasons was that the 45-m telescope was expected to be inoperationby 1982. In addition it was considered that Japan had been very active in the theory of star formation as well as in mm and IR observations of star forming regions. At the Patras General Assembly of the IAU the issue was brought up for discussion at meetings of Commis­ sions 34 (Interstellar Matter) and 40 (Radioastronomy), the former agreed to sponsor the Symposium, while the latter agreed to co-sponsore it. The IAU Executive Committee accepted the proposal to hold the Symposium on September 1983. The Symposium was held in Tokyo on 11-15 November 1985, just before the New Delhi General Assembly. It was attended by 250 scientists from 18 countries, and 212 papers were presented. The Scientific Organizing Committee elaborated a superb program of invited and review presentations. The Conference consisted of oral and poster sessions. The oral sessions included review papers, invited papers and a few of the contributed papers; after each presentation a discussion was held. The poster ses­ sions included most of the contributed papers and were very well attended. We consider that the scientific goals of the meeting were amply achieved and we express our thanks to all the participants and specially to the members of the SOC for making them possible.