During the revolution in earth science that has taken place in recent years, studies of the North Atlantic ocean floor and of Iceland have played an increasingly significant role. Icelandic geoscientists have followed, and taken part in, these studies with a keen interest; one of the first tasks of the Geoscience Society of Iceland was to organize an Icelandic symposium on "Iceland and Mid-Ocean Ridges" in 1967. At the suggestion of Dr. G. Pfuason, the Society and various local research institutions formed in 1972 an Organizing Committee for an international meeting on earth science. It was...