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The Institute of Computing for Climate Science at the University of Cambridge plans a free event in Manchester on Dec. 1, 2026, marking 70 years since the first Fortran manual was published. The programme will include a keynote, lightning talks and discussion; registration is scheduled to close Nov. 9.
The Institute of Computing for Climate Science at the University of Cambridge plans to mark 70 years since the first Fortran manual with a free workshop and evening reception in Manchester on Dec. 1, 2026. The event will look back at the language’s history and discuss current developments and its future in scientific computing.
The workshop is scheduled to run from 2:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the conference suite at the Science and Industry Museum. Organizers say it will be followed by an evening drinks reception in the museum’s exhibition hall, including a demonstration of the experimental computer known as “Baby.”
The programme is planned as a retrospective. It will include a keynote from Damian Rouson of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, lightning talks on current Fortran developments and community initiatives, and an open breakout discussion about the language’s next 70 years. Organizers are inviting proposals for lightning talks, posters and breakout discussion topics.
Attendance is listed as free of charge, with support from funders and sponsors. The event is intended primarily for in-person participation, but the organizers say a Zoom option will also be available. Registration is set to close on Nov. 9, 2026, and further programme details and submission instructions are available through the event webpage referenced by the organizers.
Fortran’s Role in Scientific Computing
The anniversary is an occasion to discuss a programming language that remains in use in scientific and engineering work, including fields where long-running software and computational performance matter. In his announcement, Joe Wallwork of the Institute of Computing for Climate Science says Fortran has supported work in nuclear engineering, weather and climate forecasting, and materials science over its seven decades.
That history matters to researchers and institutions maintaining scientific software, as well as to people considering how established code fits alongside newer tools and approaches. The event’s planned focus on both community initiatives and future directions gives attendees a forum to exchange views. It does not, by itself, establish how widely Fortran is used today or predict the language’s future; those questions are part of the broader discussion the workshop proposes to host.
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From the 1956 Manual to Manchester
The anniversary date used by the organizers is Oct. 15, 2026, 70 years after publication of the first Fortran manual. Their announcement, published on Sept. 15, describes the Manchester gathering as a celebration of the language’s contribution to science and engineering. The event is set for Dec. 1, several weeks after the anniversary itself.
Fortran’s original name referred to the translation of formulas, and the language became associated with scientific and numerical computing. The source announcement emphasizes its continued role in several technical fields, but does not provide usage figures or compare Fortran’s adoption with other languages. The planned retrospective combines a historical keynote with talks and an open discussion, rather than presenting a research report or a new technical standard.
““Over Fortran’s seven decades of usage, it has supported critical infrastructure and technological advances in a range of scientific fields such as nuclear engineering, weather and climate forecasting, and materials science.””
— Joe Wallwork, Institute of Computing for Climate Science, University of Cambridge
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Programme and Attendance Details Pending
The announcement gives the event date, venue, broad schedule and registration deadline, but the full programme and detailed instructions for submitting talks and posters are referred to separately on the event webpage. It does not identify the funders and sponsors or state how many people are expected to attend.
The organizers say remote participation will be available through Zoom, but the announcement does not specify access arrangements, whether remote attendees can take part in all sessions, or whether the event will be recorded. The description of Fortran as a continuing go-to language in relevant fields is also not accompanied by adoption statistics or an independent assessment.
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Registration Closes November 9
People interested in attending or contributing can register and consult the event webpage for programme updates and submission instructions. The stated deadline for registration is Nov. 9, 2026. The workshop and reception are scheduled for Dec. 1 at the Science and Industry Museum, with in-person participation and a Zoom option planned.
Before the event, organizers are inviting proposals for lightning talks, posters and breakout topics. The announcement does not specify separate submission deadlines, so prospective contributors will need to check the event webpage for current requirements and any later updates.
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Key Questions
When and where is the Fortran anniversary event?
The event is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2026, at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, United Kingdom. The workshop is planned for 2:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., followed by an evening reception.
Does the event cost anything?
The organizers say attendance is free, supported by funders and sponsors. Registration is required, and the stated closing date is Nov. 9, 2026.
Can people attend remotely?
Yes. The announcement says the event will be primarily in person, with an option to join by Zoom. Further access details are not included in the announcement.
What is planned for the programme?
The outline includes a keynote by Damian Rouson of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, lightning talks on current developments and community initiatives, and an open discussion about Fortran’s future. A reception is also planned, including a demonstration of the experimental computer “Baby.”
Why is the event being held in 2026?
The organizers identify Oct. 15, 2026, as the 70th anniversary of the first Fortran manual’s publication. The celebration is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2026.
Source: hn
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