FORGING NEW LINKS

The collapse of the Berlin Wall symbolizes the end of the Cold War, and links in a Web page are a metaphor for our enhanced capacity for global information exchange. In this spirit, we have worked hard to ensure that ICSE98 will see an unprecedented increase in the level of international participation and provide an opportunity to highlight the interests and accomplishments of members from the Asian-Pacific region.

Yet our outreach must extend beyond geography. As we continue to build bridges to other software disciplines, researchers and practitioners in allied fields will benefit from an understanding of the contributions that software engineering can make to their work. In turn, we must address their problems in our research.

New collaborations between academia and industry will also enrich ICSE98 and our profession as a whole. The presentation of top-notch papers will, of course, constitute the core activity of ICSE98. Cutting edge research will be showcased in technical paper sessions, workshops, panels, posters, demonstrations, and special sessions devoted to the lessons learned from building large and complex software systems.

We hope you will take advantage of this unique opportunity to meet new colleagues, exchange ideas, and explore the nearly limitless possibilities that lie ahead. Join us in Kyoto for ICSE98 and share the excitement that comes from forging new links.