The importance of a journal to a scientific association

Abstract

Scientific associations are collections of scientists with specific interests in common. In the case of the Turkish Society of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy (TSACA), this is a group of (mostly) Turkish anatomists with common interests in human anatomy and medical education. They typically meet on an annual schedule when they can gather in one place and discuss their common interests in detail. This year (2009) is special because the TSACA is hosting the biannual meeting of the European Association of Clinical Anatomists so the gathering will be from a much larger geographical area (practically the entire world!) and many more anatomists will be involved. Whereas regular gatherings of this type are enjoyable and intellectually stimulating, they only occupy a few days out of the year. What about the other 360 or more days in the year? Undoubtedly there are continuing collaborations and discussions among colleagues that were initiated at the annual meeting, but the sharing of ideas and information is clearly diminished.

Keywords

• scientific association
• Clinical Anatomists
• Turkish Society