The mathematical theory of networks and systems has a long, and rich
history, with antecedents in circuit synthesis and the analysis, design
and synthesis of actuators, sensors and active elements in both
electrical and mechanical systems. Fundamental paradigms such as the
state-space real- ization of an input/output system, or the use of
feedback to prescribe the behavior of a closed-loop system have proved
to be as resilient to change as were the practitioners who used them.
This volume celebrates the resiliency to change of the fundamental con-
cepts underlying the mathematical theory of networks and systems. The
articles presented here are among those presented as plenary addresses,
invited addresses and minisymposia presented at the 12th International
Symposium on the Mathematical Theory of Networks and Systems, held in
St. Louis, Missouri from June 24 - 28, 1996. Incorporating models and
methods drawn from biology, computing, materials science and math-
ematics, these articles have been written by leading researchers who are
on the vanguard of the development of systems, control and estimation
for the next century, as evidenced by the application of new
methodologies in distributed parameter systems, linear nonlinear systems
and stochastic sys- tems for solving problems in areas such as aircraft
design, circuit simulation, imaging, speech synthesis and visionics.