The question as to whether interpreters should be generalists or specialists has been widely discussed by members of the profession. The current paper considers the specialist/generalist issue from the viewpoint of a free-lance interpreter domiciled in Europe. The author argues that there is a growing need for specialization in our increasingly complex and technically oriented world. Therefore it is imperative for conference interpreters to acquire specialized knowledge in one or more fields. At the same time, however, they can not afford not to be generalists. Even at highly technical scientific meeting interpreters face situations which require a vast knowledge of 'universal culture'.