The Mathematical Optimization Society (MOS), known as the Mathematical Programming Society until 2010, is an international association of researchers active in optimization. The MOS encourages the research, development, and use of optimization—including mathematical theory, software implementation, and practical applications (operations research).
Founded in 1973, the MOS has several activities: Publishing journals and a newsletter, organizing and cosponsoring conferences, and awarding prizes.
In the 1960s, mathematical programming methods were gaining increasing importance both in mathematical theory and in industrial application. To provide a discussion forum for researchers in the field arose, the journal Mathematical Programming was founded in 1970.
Based on activities by George Dantzig, Albert Tucker, Phil Wolfe and others, the MOS was founded in 1973, with George Dantzig as its first president.
Several conferences are organized or co-organized by the Mathematical Optimization Society, for instance:
There are several publications by the Mathematical Optimization Society:
The MOS awards prizes in the field of optimization, including the Fulkerson Prize, the Dantzig Prize and the Tucker Prize.
Since 1979 in cooperation with the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics SIAM the Mathematical Optimization Society awards the George B. Dantzig Prize for "original research that has had a major impact on the field of mathematical programming". This prize was first awarded in 1982 to Michael J. D. Powell and R. Tyrrell Rockafellar.