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ICSU executive board meeting 1989
promoting activities in this field; it has, in fact, already awarded study contracts on this subject and plans to have further studies undertaken during the coming months. 1.5. ICSU EXECUTIVE
BOARD MEETING
1999’5’
The ICSU Executive Board met in Paris during the first days of March, following a special meeting on ICSU’s policy on the Free Circulation of Scientists, and another to plan the Conference on International Science and its Partners. The Board reviewed the Resolutions of the 1988 General Assembly and noted that most of these were being followed up. Global change
Together with officers of the Scientific Committee on the Problems of the Environment (SCOPE), the Board agreed to issue a statement clarifying the relationship between SCOPE and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). It was felt that there was some confusion over the differing roles of these two bodies, especially among those outside the ICSU family. SCOPE is primarily concerned with information-gathering and providing a synthesis of prevailing ideas on environmental subjects, whereas IGBP will, after the initial planning phase, be a research programme. Disaster reduction
Professor Keilis-Borok, member of the Board and President of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), presented a brief scientific analysis of the 1988 Armenian earthquake before introducing the recommendation of the ad hoc ICSU Group on Scientific Aspects of Natural Disasters, which he had chaired. The Group recommended that ICSU provide a scientific input to the UN-sponsored International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. The Executive Board agreed to the proposals made by the group. Commission on the Lithosphere
A review of the Inter-Union Commission on the Lithosphere, to be completed by mid-1990, was initiated. The review group will be chaired by the Vice-President of ICSU, Professor W. E. Gordon, and members have been suggested by both the IUGG and by the International Union of Geological Sciences (BJGS). Assessment and priorities
Plans were approved for the 1989 meeting of the Standing Committee on @‘From Science International No. 37, June 1989.
10
Assessment and Priorities (SCAP) to take place in June, and for the review of the Committee for the Teaching of Science (CTS), the World Data Centres (WDC), the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA), and the Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical Services (FAGS). SCAP will also discuss current activities such as IGBP and future priorities in the areas of Natural Disasters and Informatics. The SCAP meeting will be preceded by a one-day meeting on Access to Data (following General Assembly Resolution 8) and be followed by the annual meeting of the ICSU-UNESCO Coordinating Committee, to examine UNESCO’s Medium Term Plan (19901995) and the programme and budget for the coming two years. Scientific American Award The Board approved plans for ICSU to present, on behalf of the magazine Scientific American, the 1991 Award for Service to Science in the Cause of Humankind, to be made at the 23rd General Assembly in Bulgaria in 1990. Free circulation As a follow-up to the General Assembly Resolution which asked the Executive Board ‘to study further the application and implementation of ICSU’s principle of non-discrimination and universality’, a special meeting was held before the Executive Board. The meeting was attended by Board members, the officers of the Standing Committee on the Free Circulation of Scientists and legal experts in the area of human rights and international law. The invited experts provided useful background information regarding human rights, freedom of association, and international law. As a result of these deliberations, the special meeting recommended that some changes be introduced in Statutes 3 and 5, which would refer to human rights and responsibilities, political philosophy, universality and bona fide scientists. It was also suggested that a statement be prepared outlining ICSU’s principles in more detail than is possible in the Statutes and relating ICSU’s objectives to the special needs of science. The Executive Board approved these recommendations and the Standing Committee on Structure and Statutes will pursue the matter. International science and its partners The planning session for the ICSU Conference on International Science and its Partners (ISIP) was also held at the ICSU Secretariat just before the Executive Board. The Conference will be held in Hungary from 2 to 5 May 1990 to initiate a dialogue with groups of decision-makers that will help shape a coherent and credible voice for international science. It is expected that the Conference will examine the crucial interactions of the natural sciences with intergovernmental organizations, governments and industry, and will suggest programmes for continuing cooperation. 11
BOARD MEETING
1999’5’
The ICSU Executive Board met in Paris during the first days of March, following a special meeting on ICSU’s policy on the Free Circulation of Scientists, and another to plan the Conference on International Science and its Partners. The Board reviewed the Resolutions of the 1988 General Assembly and noted that most of these were being followed up. Global change
Together with officers of the Scientific Committee on the Problems of the Environment (SCOPE), the Board agreed to issue a statement clarifying the relationship between SCOPE and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). It was felt that there was some confusion over the differing roles of these two bodies, especially among those outside the ICSU family. SCOPE is primarily concerned with information-gathering and providing a synthesis of prevailing ideas on environmental subjects, whereas IGBP will, after the initial planning phase, be a research programme. Disaster reduction
Professor Keilis-Borok, member of the Board and President of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), presented a brief scientific analysis of the 1988 Armenian earthquake before introducing the recommendation of the ad hoc ICSU Group on Scientific Aspects of Natural Disasters, which he had chaired. The Group recommended that ICSU provide a scientific input to the UN-sponsored International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. The Executive Board agreed to the proposals made by the group. Commission on the Lithosphere
A review of the Inter-Union Commission on the Lithosphere, to be completed by mid-1990, was initiated. The review group will be chaired by the Vice-President of ICSU, Professor W. E. Gordon, and members have been suggested by both the IUGG and by the International Union of Geological Sciences (BJGS). Assessment and priorities
Plans were approved for the 1989 meeting of the Standing Committee on @‘From Science International No. 37, June 1989.
10
Assessment and Priorities (SCAP) to take place in June, and for the review of the Committee for the Teaching of Science (CTS), the World Data Centres (WDC), the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA), and the Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical Services (FAGS). SCAP will also discuss current activities such as IGBP and future priorities in the areas of Natural Disasters and Informatics. The SCAP meeting will be preceded by a one-day meeting on Access to Data (following General Assembly Resolution 8) and be followed by the annual meeting of the ICSU-UNESCO Coordinating Committee, to examine UNESCO’s Medium Term Plan (19901995) and the programme and budget for the coming two years. Scientific American Award The Board approved plans for ICSU to present, on behalf of the magazine Scientific American, the 1991 Award for Service to Science in the Cause of Humankind, to be made at the 23rd General Assembly in Bulgaria in 1990. Free circulation As a follow-up to the General Assembly Resolution which asked the Executive Board ‘to study further the application and implementation of ICSU’s principle of non-discrimination and universality’, a special meeting was held before the Executive Board. The meeting was attended by Board members, the officers of the Standing Committee on the Free Circulation of Scientists and legal experts in the area of human rights and international law. The invited experts provided useful background information regarding human rights, freedom of association, and international law. As a result of these deliberations, the special meeting recommended that some changes be introduced in Statutes 3 and 5, which would refer to human rights and responsibilities, political philosophy, universality and bona fide scientists. It was also suggested that a statement be prepared outlining ICSU’s principles in more detail than is possible in the Statutes and relating ICSU’s objectives to the special needs of science. The Executive Board approved these recommendations and the Standing Committee on Structure and Statutes will pursue the matter. International science and its partners The planning session for the ICSU Conference on International Science and its Partners (ISIP) was also held at the ICSU Secretariat just before the Executive Board. The Conference will be held in Hungary from 2 to 5 May 1990 to initiate a dialogue with groups of decision-makers that will help shape a coherent and credible voice for international science. It is expected that the Conference will examine the crucial interactions of the natural sciences with intergovernmental organizations, governments and industry, and will suggest programmes for continuing cooperation. 11