Mathematical Work of Norbert Wiener

he Norbert Wiener Centenary Congress was held at Michigan State University, November 27–December 3, 1994. The Congress was cosponsored by the American Mathematical Society, the International Association of Cybernetics, and the World Organization of Systems and Cybernetics. The aim of the Congress was to reveal the depth and strong coherence of thought that runs through Wiener’s legacy and to exhibit its influence on current research. The Congress drew fiftyeight participants, including thirteen from Europe, two from Asia, one from Mexico, and two from Canada. There were twenty-nine addresses, sixteen contributed papers, and one round table discussion. The Congress ended with the award of the Norbert Wiener Centenary Medal to Claude E. Shannon (Shannon’s wife accepted the medal on his behalf. See photo above.). The following article, written by one of the coorganizers of the Congress, describes some of Wiener’s work explored at the Congress and discusses its impact on contemporary research.