The first manual for Fortran was released on 15 October, marking seven decades since the language debuted as a tool for scientific computing. Developed at the IBM Mathematical Modeling Project, Fortran has remained a staple in fields that require high‑performance numerical calculations, including nuclear engineering, climate modeling, and materials research.

To commemorate the milestone, the Institute of Computing for Climate Science is organizing a ‘Celebrating 70 Years of Fortran’ symposium at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester on 1 December 2026. The event will run from 14:30 to 18:15 in the museum’s conference suite, followed by an evening reception that will feature a demonstration of the 1940s experimental computer known as ‘Baby’.

The program includes a keynote address by Damian Rouson of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, who will reflect on Fortran’s evolution over the past 70 years. Additional elements comprise lightning talks highlighting current research and community initiatives, as well as an open breakout session aimed at shaping the language’s future direction. Attendees may submit lightning talks or poster proposals, and can suggest discussion topics through an online form.

Registration is free and supported by various funders and sponsors. Interested participants can register via a web form, with the deadline set for 9 November 2026. While the symposium will be held primarily in person, a remote participation option via Zoom will also be available.

Further details, including the full agenda and instructions for submitting talks and posters, are posted on the event’s webpage. The announcement was also cross‑posted on the CAKE website.