By historical accounts, the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM) originated when Theodore von Kármán, professor in Aachen (Germany), held a conference in Innsbruck in September 1922 to discuss questions of hydrodynamics and aerodynamics. The first IUTAM congress was held in Delft in the Netherlands in 1924. Currently, the principal objectives of the Union are to form a link between persons and organizations engaged in scientific work in all branches of theoretical and applied mechanics and related sciences, to organize international congresses of theoretical and applied mechanics and other international meetings on subjects of mechanics, and to engage in other activities meant to promote the development of mechanics as a branch of science. Today, over 500 active scientists are involved in IUTAM, representing about 50 countries and 20 affiliated international organizations.