The IUTAM-IASS Symposium on Deployable Structures: Theory and Applications was held on 6-9 September 1998 in the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge. The Scientific Committee was appointed jointly by the two sponsoring organisations, the International Union for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM) and the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (lASS). Its membership was as follows: S. Pellegrino (UK, Chairman) C. R. Calladine (UK) L. B. Freund (USA) M. Geradin (Belgium) Y. Hangai (Japan) K. Kawata (Japan) B. Kroplin (Germany) S. ]. Medwadowski (USA) M. M. Mikulas (USA) A. Samartin Quiroga (Spain) F. P. ]. Rimrott (Canada) T. Tarnai (Hungary) The opening lecture of the Symposium was given by Professor C. R. Calladine. It was followed by seven lecture sessions on Concepts, Structural Mechanics, Reflectors, Deployable Structures in Nature, Design and Testing, Inflatable Structures, Simulation, plus a large interactive session during which posters and physical models were shown. A discussion of topics suggested by the participants took place during the closing session. There were 83 participants from 18 countries, and a total of 50 papers were presented. Financial support was generously provided by the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM). Additional support was provided by the British Council, the British National Space Centre (BNSC), and Kluwer Academic Publishers. We thank the members of the Scientific Committee for their willingness to referee to a high standard both the abstracts and the papers for the proceedings. Professor G. M. L.