Several recent developments have led to a strong upsurge of interest in the dynamics of the middle atmosphere, which is that portion of the atmosphere between the tropopause (8--16 km) and 100 km altitude. One is the development of new theoretical insights and capabilities, notably the renewed interest in traveling planetary waves, and in the Lagrangian approach to atmospheric dynamics, with the demonstration that it provides illuminating insights into the interactions between waves and the mean flow. The number and scope of computer models has also grown rapidly. The second stimulus has been the emergence of new observational techniques. Satellite observations have matured and are coming into widespread use by the general community. Radio techniques are now demonstrating the complementary capability of determining winds and observing local variatons with smaller space and time scales. A third has been the general interest in the middle atmosphere, fueled originally by concern over the chemical stability of the ozone layer to anthropogenic perturbations. It is now a commonplace that the chemistry is tightly coupled to radiative and dynamical processes. A full comprehension requires understanding of all three systems. The International Symposium on Middle Atmosphere Dynamics and Transport was held at the University of Illinois from July 28 to August 1, 1980, under the auspices of the Middle Atmosphere Program (MAP). In addition to the usual function of a scientific symposium, to serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas, this symposium was intended to focus attention on the principal outstanding problems in middle atmosphere dynamics so that they can be incorporated in the planning for MAP and other future programs. We believe that the number and quality of the papers in this symposium were such that both functions were well served. A selection of these papers are presented in the following pages. While they represent only a part of the 79 reviews and contributed papers, they illustrate the breadth and vigor of the meeting, and of this field.