Inspired by the vision that applied mathematics should play an important role in advancing science and technology in industry a small group of professionals from academe and industry met in Philadelphia in 1951 to start an organization whose members would meet periodically to exchange ideas about the uses of mathematics in industry. This meeting led quickly to the organization of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). The goals of SIAM were to:

• Advance the application of mathematics to science and industry.
• Promote mathematical research that could lead to effective new methods and techniques for science and industry.
• Provide media for the exchange of information and ideas among mathematicians