The International Commission on Mathematical Instruction is planning a series of studies on topics of current interest within mathematical education. The first study was on the influence of computers and informatics on mathematics and its teaching at university and senior high school level. It was prepared by a Program Committee, consisting of R.F. Churchhouse (Cardiff), B. Cornu (Grenoble), A.P. Ershov (Novosibirsk), A.G. Howson (Soughampton), J.-P. Kahane (Orsay), J.H. van Lint (Eindhoven), F. Pluvinage (Strasbourg), A. Ralston (Buffalo), M. Yamaguti (Kyoto). A discussion document was sent to all national delegates of ICMI and printed in l'Enseignement Mathématique, 30 (1984). Contributions written in response to this paper formed the basis of discussions at a symposium held in Strasbourg in March, 1985.

The Proceedings begin with a general report which looks in particular at the three themes:

1. How do computers and informatics influence mathematical ideas, values and the advancement of mathematical science?

2. How can new curricula be designed to meet changing needs and possibilities?

3. How can the use of computers help the teaching of mathematics?

There then follows a selection of papers contributed to the Strasbourg symposium. The selection is our responsibility, and is based on the recommendations of the Editorial Board. In some cases a paper has been selected because of its originality, in others because it represents a theme treated in several contributions – in such cases our choice reflects our wish to give prominence to the theme, and not necessarily our support for the arguments advanced in a particular paper.