\documentclass{iau}
\pagenumbering{roman}
\setcounter{page}{0}
\begin{document}

\mh{Preface}\markboth{Preface}{Preface}
The physics of massive stars ($M_i \gtrsim 20$ M$_{\odot}$) has major highlights. 
During their evolution from the main sequence to the pre-supernova phase, they 
dominate the interstellar radiation field and the enrichment of the interstellar 
medium with heavy elements. They are progenitors of supernovae, sources of cosmic 
rays, and provide nucleosynthesis tests. In the last decade the major role of 
massive starbursts in the evolution of the universe has become evident. Recent 
years have seen avalanches of new observational results in the field of massive 
stars and massive starbursts from ground-based, airborne and space observatories, 
from the Galactic Center clusters to Local Group galaxies and to high-{\it z} 
galaxies. Due to their luminosity and spectroscopic features, the consecutive 
phases of massive stars and starbursts can be observed out to huge distances, 
and thus be studied at great variety. While rapid developments are taking place 
on the observational fronts, also at the theoretical side important new 
developments are shaping up in atmospheric, interior, and spectral-synthesis 
modelling.

The first ideas for this Symposium were generated at informal gatherings
during IAU Symposium No. 193 on {\it Wolf-Rayet Phenomena in Massive Stars and
Starburst Galaxies}, in Puerto Vallarta, November 1998. At the time, it was felt
that in a subsequent IAU symposium on hot massive stars, all their evolutionary
phases should be covered. A candidate Scientific Organizing Committee was
invited in Spring 2000, and extensive e-mail communication among the SOC
members subsequently established the programme for the symposium. As the
main astrophysical themes of the symposium, the following were selected: (1)
atmospheres of massive stars; (2) interiors of massive stars; (3) location and
distribution of massive stars; and (4) environment of and feedback from massive
stars.

We felt that such a programme, and the importance of IAU Symposia in general, 
would bring together specialists in different fields and associated with 
different IAU Commissions and Divisions. The symposium would join the flourishing
fields of hot luminous stars with dense supersonic stellar winds, hydrodynamics
of wind-wind and wind-shell interaction, interstellar matter, high energy
astrophysics, and evolution of massive stars.

Following endorsement and sponsoring by IAU Commissions and Divisions
and subsequent approval by the IAU Executive Committee in June 2001, speak\-ers
were invited and the community at large informed. The overwhelming, pos\-itive
response materialized into 18 invited review papers, 37 invited papers, 9
oral contributions and some 135 poster papers, entertaining 171 astronomers
from 23 countries.

Tradition prescribes that IAU symposia on hot massive stars take place in
high-lu\-mi\-no\-si\-ty beach resorts, and after such IAU symposia in Buenos Aires
(No.\,49), Qualicum Beach (No.\,83), Cozumel (No.\,99), Porto Heli (No.\,116), Bali
(No.\,143), Elba (No.\,163), and Puerto Vallarta (No.\,193), the Canary Islands
appear as a marvelous location for a symposium in this series. Therefore we
were~delighted by the invitation of our colleagues of the Instituto de Astrof{\' i}sica
de Canarias to host the symposium on Lanzarote. The Canary Islands are
\nobreak{continuously} developing in astronomy and harbour two top-level observatories,
thus offering an ideal climate for astronomical contemplations.
\pagebreak

It is a great pleasure to acknowledge the financial support of our sponsors
listed on page {\it xxi} of these Proceedings, the active support of the members
of the LOC in realizing the numerous details always associated with such a
symposium, in particular Tanja Karthaus (IAC), and the careful transcription
of the discussion sheets by Sarah Tayler (SRON).

\bigskip 

May these Proceedings be a compass to guide us during our odyssey over the oceans 
of research on massive stars, from the Milky Way to the edge of the universe, to 
boldly go where no one went before, till another beach resort looms at the horizon.

\vskip\baselineskip

\noindent{\it Karel A. van der Hucht and Artemio Herrero, co-chairs SOC,\\
C{\'e}sar Esteban, chair LOC\\
Utrecht, La Laguna, November 30, 2002}

\end{document}
