The Fourth International Conference on Laser Spectroscopy (FICOLS) was held in the Hotel Oberfahrt in Rottach-Egern, Tegernsee, June 11-15, 1979. Rottach-Egern is a well-known health resort situated on the southern end of Lake Tegernsee. As with the previous laser spectroscopy conferences in Vail, Megeve, and Jackson, the purpose of FICOLS was to provide ~n informal setting where an international group of scientists active in laser spectroscopy could discuss current problems and developments in the field. The program consisted essen- tially of invited lectures with appropriate time provided for the latest postdeadline results. The conference was attended by 340 scientists representing 25 countries: Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, – Peoples Re- public of China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany (FRG), Germany (GDR), Great Britain, India, Italy, Japan, Nether- lands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, U.S.k, , U.S.S.R., and Yugoslavia. Unfortunately five of our colleagues from Japan who planned to attend the meeting could not come due to an interruption of airline schedules, Their absence was a distinct loss to the conference. However, their papers will be published in one of the forthcoming issues of the journal Applied Physics. Numerous people have contributed to making the conference a success. Especially we would like to thank the members of the steering committee for their advice concerning the program.