In these essays Heinz von Foerster discusses some of the fundamental principles that govern how we know the world and how we process the information from which we derive that knowledge. Included are path- breaking articles concerning the principles of computation in neural nets (1967), the definition of self-organizing systems (1960), the nature of cognition (1970), as well as recent expansions on these themes (e.g. "How recursive is communication," 1993). Working with Norbert Wiener, Warren McCullough, and others in the 1960s and 1970s, von Foerster was one of the founders of the science of cybernetics, which has had profound effects both on modern systems theory and on the philosophy of cognition. At the Biological Computer Laboratory at the University of Illinois he produced the first parallel computers and contributed to many other developments in the theory of computation and cognition.

In 1945, Dr. Ernst Weber founded, and was the first Director of, the Microwave Research Institute (MRI) at POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY (at that time named the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn). MRI gained world-wide recognition in the 50's and 60's for its research in electromagnetic theory, antennas and radiation, network theory and microwave networks, microwave components and devices. It was also known through its series of topical symposia and the widely distributed hard bound MRI Symposium Proceedings. Rededicated as the Weber Research Institute (WRI) in 1986, the research focus today is on such areas as electromagnetic propagation and antennas, ultra broadband electromagnetics, pulse power, acoustics, gaseous electronics, plasma physics, solid state materials, quantum electronics, electromagnetic launchers, and networks. Following the MRI tradition, WRI has launched its own series of in-depth topical conferences with published proceedings. The first conference was held in October, 1990 and was entitled Directions in Electromagnetic Wave Modeling. The proceedings of the conference were published under that title by Plenum Press. This volume constitutes the Proceedings of the second WRI International Conference dealing with Ultra·Wideband Short·Pulse Electromagnetics.

From the reviews: “The first volume is devoted to ergodic theory and dynamical systems. It contains 19 papers divided into four groups ... . The reader will find a wealth of information and ideas that can still ignite inspiration and motivate students as well as senior researchers. The reader will also have a touch of Sinai’s personality, his taste, enthusiasm, and optimism, which are just as invaluable as his mathematical results.” (Nikolai Chernov, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2012 e)