Meetings as physical processes

The following may be used as metaphors to explore alternative ways of understanding meetings:< [1. Thermodynamics:]

The social processes in the meeting may be viewed in terms of the relationships between "pressure", "volume", "temperature" and various measures of energy stored and released.[2. Magnetothermohydrodynamics:]

The challenge of assembling the different participant orientations into a coherent configuration, generating and focusing the associated energies, and reaching a new level of significance, may be seen in the light of a fusion approach to plasma in a magnetic bottle.

[3. Meteorology:]

The condition of a meeting may be viewed in terms of meteorological phenomena: wind, fog, heat, cold, visibility, precipitation (rain, snow), clouds, warm/cold fronts, wind patterns, etc.

[4. Geology/topography:]

Participants and their interests may be viewed as geographical features (continents, islands, mountains) isolated or linked by seas, rivers, rifts, etc.