IFAC is the worldwide organization dealing with Automatic Control theory, applications, education, and all of its technical and social implications. The membership of IFAC, based on the National Member Organizations, provides a truly international participation, preserving the local customs in the development of its activities. Individuals can participate in IFAC in many ways: as Affiliates who receive the Newsletter; as Technical Committee Members through nomination either by the National Member Organization or by the Technical Committee Chair; as members of the International Program Committees of IFAC events; as authors of papers for IFAC events; as attendees of IFAC events; and, ultimately as officials of IFAC.

The exchange of ideas and results is among the main goals of IFAC. To pursue this goal, IFAC organizes high quality technical meetings and publishes some of the leading journals in the field of Automatic Control. Between 30 and 40 technical events per year, whose scheduling, scope, and ways of participation can be accessed through our webpage, are sponsored by one or more of the 40 IFAC Technical Committees. These events, as well as the Triennial World Congress, are technically monitored by International Program Committees, which subject draft papers to a rigorous reviewing process. We are moving to a system in which all papers of these meetings will be electronically accessible in the future.

Contributed papers, following reviews, can be published in Automatica, Control Engineering Practice, Annual Reviews of Control, Journal of Process Control, Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, or Mechatronics, the six prestigious IFAC journals. Other excellent contributions, in more specialized fields, may be published in IFAC affiliated journals

Every three years, IFAC presents a number of awards. In addition to the best journal papers for each IFAC journal, except Annual Reviews of Conrol, the best papers presented at the Congress in the area of applications, by a young author, or as a poster, are also awarded. To emphasize the relevance of education, the Harold Chestnut Control Engineering Textbook Prize is awarded. Life contributions, with a theoretical or practical focus, are distinguished by the Giorgio Quazza and Nathaniel Nichols IFAC medals. The Industrial Achievement Award is presented to an individual, or a team of individuals, who has made a significant contribution to industrial applications of control. Long-term service to the Federation is recognized by the Outstanding Service Award or by a Presidential appointment as an IFAC Advisor. Distinguished individuals may be honoured by the Council as IFAC Fellows. This recognition, established in 2004, is given annually to those who have made outstanding and extraordinary individual contributions in the fields of interest of IFAC as an engineer/scientist, technical leader or educator.

The central technical role in IFAC is played by its Technical Board, which coordinates the activities of the Technical Committees and provides reports and summaries of the state of the art in each area. These internal documents are published, at the time of the Congress, as a reference for the Automatic Control community. The administrative and financial issues are managed by the Executive Board, which also prepares long-term IFAC policies and is in charge of publications and awards.

The IFAC Council conducts the day-to-day business of the Federation, having been empowered to do so by the General Assembly, which is composed of all National Member Organizations. The members of the Council, who can be recognized at IFAC meetings by their blue badges, may be approached to discuss any issue related to IFAC activities. The most important goal of IFAC is to serve all of you who are part of the large Automatic Control community.

In 2006 IFAC celebrates its 50th Anniversary in Heidelberg, where IFAC was conceived in 1956. Since that time IFAC has grown into a truly worldwide organization, with members in 49 countries worldwide. IFAC National Member Organizations exist on all continents. One of the future tasks will be to strengthen the automatic control communities also in those areas of the world, where IFAC has not yet found comprehensive represenation by NMOs.

The next IFAC Triennial World Congress will be held in Seoul, Korea, in July 2008. Plan now to participate. In the meantime, come to other IFAC events and/or contribute to our journals. Join a Technical Committee in the field of your expertise. In 2005 IFAC the IFAC Foundation will be launched, to fund projects to enhance IFAC services to those who need support from IFAC for their development. Our aim is to offer you an excellent and at the same time enjoyable professional and personal relationship.