DPF `96: The triumph of the Standard Model

Abstract

I summarize some of the highlights of the 1996 DPF meeting, paying particular attention to new measurements of the $W$, $Z$, and top quark masses. Precision electroweak measurements from LEP are discussed with emphasis on recent measurements of $R_b$ and values of the coupling constants $\alpha(M_Z^2)$ and $\alpha_s(M_Z^2)$ are presented. Taken as a whole, the data are in spectacular agreement with the predictions of the Standard Model.