INFORMS News

Formation of the Optimization/Mathematical Programming Section

At the most recent INFORMS meeting in Los Angeles, approximately 50 members signed a petition to form a section for optimization/mathematical programming. This is a critical time for members of INFORMS with a special interest in optimization models and methodologies. With the merger of ORSA and TIMS, the new society, INFORMS, may be expected to serve as an umbrella organization with sections becoming somewhat more autonomous. In the process, it is possible that areas such as optimization/mathematical programming, which are not represented by a section, may fall through the cracks. The formation of a new section to represent optimization interests is intended to rekindle the close ties between optimization methods and operations research/management science.

If your interests are related to the development or use of optimization/mathematical programming, we urge you to sign up as a member of the Optimization/Mathematical Programming Section. Dues will be $5.

Section supporters are mainly interested in sponsoring sessions at the semi-annual INFORMS conferences. The new section will attempt to coordinate clusters on a variety of optimization topics covering models and methods. Representation of all aspects of optimization/mathematical programming is central to the success of the section. The section is not considering sponsorship of journals since there are many high-quality outlets already present. Furthermore, the society's journals have traditionally had a strong representation of articles in the area of optimization.

Join this new section and help promote the discipline within INFORMS. The section's first business meeting is expected to be held at the INFORMS conference in New Orleans. If you are planning to attend that conference, make a point to come to the business meeting. For information on how you can get involved, write or send E-mail to: Suvrajeet Sen, professor of Systems and Industrial Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; E-mail: sen@sie.arizona.edu


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