The last day of the conference is always a bit of an anticlimax. The energetic delegates are packing, saying goodbye, and worrying about taxis to the airport.

The less energetic are simply worn out after three days of constant input. Even the most passive participant will have heard about 60 presentations in the last few days.

The result can be high quality inputs by leading scientists in large rooms and only a handful of people in the audience. One of the presenters in just such a session started off by saying 'I am so glad there are more people than just my research team here!'

It is rumoured that the next conference, to be held in Denver in 2009, will end on the high of a Saturday night and cut out the Sunday morning effect.
And so one leaves the conference slightly worn out, slightly exhilirated and also daunted. So much information; so many people doing this work better than me; so much potential to learn more as well as improve policies and practices; so much to do.

The epithet was probably delivered by Mark Greenberg on Day 1. 'Each time I come away (from SRCD)' he said, 'I think I can do this work better.'