IFAC is the super national organization of my profession composed of member national organizations all over the world. The Chinese member is the Chinese Automation Society.  Starting in 1960 in Moscow, it meets every three years (with 1996 in the US, 1999 in Beijing , 2002 in Barcelona, Spain, and 2005 in Prague, Czech Republic in recent years.) For the past three years, Korea heads IFAC culminating in this 2008 meeting in Seoul. This is THE international congress of our profession.

The history of IFAC roughly parallels my own career (I received my Ph.D in 1961). I attend all but four of the congresses in the past 48 years (the first two for being too young, and the last two for being too old). I hold the record of having been invited to give three plenary congress addresses over the years (1981 in Kyoto, 1990 in Tallin, and the most memorable in Beijing in 1999). Thus, it is with nostalgia that I come to this probably my last IFAC congress after 48 years.

Two observations stand out here. The first is rather obvious. There are far more young and new faces that I do not recognize. Many old friends I used to meet at the congress are missing. The second one is inconsequential but interesting. At big international meeting, the local arrangement committee often organizes a tour to show off the best scenic spot as part of the social affairs of the meeting. If the venue has a river or waterway, an evening dinner cruise on a boat is often the choice. I have been to cruises in Boston harbor, Hawaii islands, River Seine in Paris, Yangtze in Chongqing, Hongkong harbor, Danube in Budapest, and here on the Han River in Seoul. There is a subtle difference between what the East and the West consider as “beautiful”. In Asia, people like to have the waterway all lit up with many neon and laser lights on office building along the banks. It is one way to show off wealth and economic development and I admit has certain charm and effect. In the West, the night scene is more nuanced and understated. It is more the difference between old money and new money.

One last bit of fact according to Academician Guo Lei of CAS who represents China on IFAC. This year, China heads the list in this Congress on number of papers submitted, and came in second on the number of papers accepted.  Note this is an international congress with an international program committee. Thus, it is good to know that Chinese papers passed this “peer review” test with excellent results – another good sign for the future of our profession in China.