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13-07-2014
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Meeting of Minds

Submitter: Madroon E.J.
Description: Whenever people in an organisation complain about a lack of communication, they usually mean that they feel neglected. When prompted, they can rarely explain what kind of communication they crave, and with whom.

Nevertheless, it is important that people communicate about what they are thinking and doing, in all kinds of ways, for all kinds of reasons. But communication is a two-way process, in which everyone should reach out, and wise management creates favourable conditions.

Fortunately, Dutch astronomical institutes are rather good at making minds meet(*), and this is one of the reasons for their spectacular success. This is not lost on perceptive foreigners. A recent President of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has carried the Dutch habit of a communal morning coffee to all the institutes of which he has been Director(**).

Obviously, it helps to have an conducive environment to meet for coffee (or lunch, or anything). Therefore, now that the ASTRON/JIVE canteen is being overhauled, as the keystone of the recent building spree, it is a moment of suspense. Will the four tribes(***) come forth and interact again? Will the acoustics allow easy conversation, like in the days that SKA was conceived in an earlier ASTRON canteen? Will the torments of the Sun be filtered down to creative comfort? We just have to wait and see.

(*) Unlike the legendary Bell Labs, which were consciously designed to force people to interact, the Dutch seem to have it naturally.
(**) Groningen, VLA, ATNF, and presumably IAU. The habit soon lapsed after he left an institute again, but the point was made.
(***) Astronomers, Ingenieurs, Management, and JIVE.

Copyright: Madroon Community Consultants (MCC)
 
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