Linear algebra is an important area of mathematics and it is at the heart of many scientific, engineering, and industrial applications. Research and development in linear algebra include theoretical studies, algorithmic designs and implementations on advanced computer architectures, and applications to various disciplines. The SIAM Conferences on Applied Linear Algebra, organized by SIAM every three years, are the premier international conferences on applied linear algebra, which bring together diverse researchers and practitioners from academia, research laboratories, and industries all over the world to present and discuss their latest work and results on applied linear algebra.

The SIAM Activity Group on Linear Algebra promotes research in linear algebra and its applications. The group organizes a triennial SIAM Conference on Applied Linear Algebra and a triennial International Summer School on Numerical Linear Algebra (ISSNLA) for graduate students. They also support smaller, less formal conferences as requested by the membership. Every three years the activity group awards prizes for the best paper and the best poster in linear algebra.