The Mathematical Sciences are among the most powerful and beautiful creations of the human mind. This fact was amply illustrated by a slate of outstanding speakers from government, universities and private industry, speaking at a Symposium entitled ``Mathematical Sciences: Adding to Australia'', held at the University of New South Wales on 23 February 1996, to celebrate the contribution of mathematical sciences to Australia. Their papers are collected here under the title ``Mathematical Sciences: Multiplying Australia's Potential''.
``Mathematical Sciences, Adding to Australia'' is also the title of the report of the ``Strategic Review of Mathematical Sciences Research and Advanced Mathematical Services in Australia'' . This review was completed by a Working Party appointed by the National Committee for Mathematics (NCM) and chaired by Professor Alf van der Poorten . Major sponsors were the Australian Research Council , many university's mathematical sciences departments, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO ).
The Review clearly showed the extraordinary extent to which mathematical sciences penetrate other disciplines. It demonstrated the essential rôle that they play in the economic competitiveness of the nation. Among the many applications cited in the review were manufacturing, biometrics, services and defence. In all, the Review made 20 recommendations to develop the profession and to enhance its contribution to the nation.
In hosting the symposium, the Australian Mathematical Sciences Council (AMSC) and the NCM combined to draw attention to the Review; in particular to highlight its recommendations. As the papers presented at the Symposium make clear, everyone within the community, no matter what mathematical talent they possess, can understand the benefits of the Mathematical Sciences to society. If the advanced Mathematical Sciences are to prosper into the next century, the story needs to be told and retold, using language that can be understood by the whole community.
The Symposium was the first step in promoting the findings of the Review; in this way advancing the Mathematical Sciences and the important related areas of Mathematics education, teaching and research. In this task the AMSC and NCM need the support of professionals, the professional associations and the community.
We give special thanks to the speakers whose papers are presented here, and to their host institutions who have supported their participation. Also acknowledged is the generosity of the University of New South Wales as well as that of the Australian Academy of Science . DrPeter Pockley has assisted greatly in ensuring that the papers have depth, interest and general appeal.
We have begun a process--it is now up to each one of us to ensure that it is indeed a successful beginning to something much greater.
| Jan Thomas | Ian Sloan |
| President, AMSC. | Chair, NCM. |