The present status of our understanding of fluorine production in asymptotic giant branch stars is reviewed, and future perspectives are presented.

The assumption that faint carbon stars, as well as high-luminosity carbon stars whose effective temperatures are well above those of ordinary N-type stars in the Magellanic Clouds, are in the early asymptotic giant branch (E-AGB) evolutionary stage, is examined using population simulation techniques.

We present a first exploratory investigation of the dynamical evolution of a dusty stellar wind envelope along the upper AGB and its transformation into a planetary nebula. We find the existence of AGB stars with detached shells to be a natural consequence of the mass-loss variations during a thermal pulse. It is also demonstrated that due to the large dynamical effects caused by the ionizing radiation field and the fast wind of the central star, it is impossible to deduce the AGB mass loss history from the planetary's density and velocity distribution. The structure of the halo, however, is still determined by the AGB mass loss history. The rapid decline of mass loss expected in the aftermath of thermal pulses leads to extended shells of low densities and explains halos with sharp boundaries.

The role of carbon stars in the build-up of chemical elements in galaxies is discussed on the basis of stellar evolution calculations and estimated stellar yields, abundance analyses of AGB stars, galactic-evolution models and abundance trends among solar-type disk stars. We conclude that the AGB stars in general, and carbon stars in particular, probably are main contributors of s-elements, that their contributions of flourine and carbon are quite significant, and that possibly their contributions of lithium, 13C and 22Ne are of some importance. Also contributions of N, Na and Al are discussed. The major uncertainties that characterize almost any statement concerning these issues are underlined.

Variable stars can be monitored through observing campaigns which coordinate multi-site telescopes at various longitudes. A new practice is now being developed, involving devoted networks of robotic telescopes. We will review these two technologies and will emphasize the NORT (Network of Oriental Robotic Telescopes) project, which we are promoting in Middle Eastern countries.

Site-testing observations carried out between 1982 and 1986 have shown that Southwest and Southeast Turkey contain good potential observatory sites. The mountain known as Bakirhtepe near the Mediterranean coast was found to be a good site with a high percentage of nights with clear skies and good seeing.

Here we summarize the results of the site-test observations and give general information about the site.