As the three-day gathering entered its official closing session, dialogue lab moderators, young scientists and students alike, bravely accepted the difficult task of reporting back to the audience before the participants took leave of each other. Each speaker sought simple and genuine words to convey the complex mixture of frustration and hope, that the experience had elicited in him or her. At the same time, each showed awareness of his responsibility to convey as objectively as possible, the opinions and ideas of the group that he or she represented. If the reports were in many ways highly critical, they were perceived (by many) from the floor of the conference hall, to be delivered with a sense of shared community and personal involvement. Only time will tell whether durable bonds have indeed been formed or strengthened, both on a purely intellectual basis and more.

Speakers acknowledged the accomplishments of the second World Knowledge Dialogue (WKD), delineated imperatives for future meetings and described what they saw as participants' responsibilities beyond the walls of the conference centre. In a world that is rapidly changing, both disciplinary boundaries and people's attitudes to change itself, need to become more flexible and adapt quickly in order to survive.

Keynote speakers carried themes regarding the critical need for effective dialogue reaching across the natural sciences and humanities. There was an increasing sense of tension, excitement and urgency in the subsequent debate that followed as the forum quickly arrived at the cutting edge of cross 'cultural' dialogue between disciplines that have traditionally been diametrically opposed.

The 2008 Symposium will start with an interactive session on the conditions necessary for a fruitful dialogue. Audience participation will be central during the next two days, with plenary sessions taking place in the mornings and discussion workshops in the afternoons. Two main interdisciplinary topics chosen by our international Scientific Board, provide the themes that will guide our debate.