The IAC organised six scientific meetings in the Canary Islands in 1998. Two international congresses, three Euroconferences and the III Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Society of Astronomy brought together 700 scientists from all over the world in the Islands. In fulfillment of one of its aims, "to foster relations with the national and international scientific community", the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) organizes periodic scientific meetings in the Islands (and sometimes outside them). In 1998, in addition to the X Canary Island Winter School (see IAC News Special), six scientific meetings were held with the participation of some 700 astronomers. The content of these meetings is the subject of this special issue, which includes the results of some personal interviews with the invited astronomers.