The IUGG Electronic JournalVolume 15 No. 1 (1 January 2015)This informal newsletter is intended to keep IUGG Member National Committees informed aboutthe activities of the IUGG Associations, and actions of the IUGG Secretariat. Past issues are postedon the IUGG website (http://www.iugg.org/publications/ejournals/). Please forward this message tothose who will benefit from the information. Your comments are welcome.Contents1. Editorial: Highlights 20142. Yearbook20153. Union membership and financial situation4. Abstract Deadline for the XXVI IUGG General Assembly5. Reminder: Delegate certifications needed for the IUGG Council Meeting6. IUGG grants to support geoscience education meetings in 20157. IUGG and climate services8. Report on the GEO Plenary9. News for the International Council for Science10. Meeting calendar1. Editorial: Highlights 2014The year 2014 went to the history of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) asanother year of international scientific cooperation. More than 100 commissions, committees,working groups, services and other scientific groupings of the IUGG family contributed to thesuccessful year. An exciting Scientific Program of the XXVI IUGG General Assembly wasdeveloped inviting scientists worldwide to submit abstracts and to attend the assembly to be held inPrague, Czech Republic (see article 4 of this issue). Nicaragua joined IUGG as a Regular Member.The American Geosciences Institute (AGI), the Commission for the Geological Map of the World(CGMW), the International Association for Geoethics (IAGETH), and the Young Earth Scientist(YES) Network became IUGG Affiliate Members. IUGG initiated a broad discussion withAssociations and National Members on individual membership.The Union was involved in various activities and showed its strength in international cooperationand science promotion. Major activities and events in 2014 are highlighted below.- Four scientific interdisciplinary meetings were organized by IUGG Union Commissions: (i)Conference on Mathematical Geophysics (CMG) in Merida, Mexico (ii) Symposium on Studyof the Earth's Deep Interior (SEDI) in Kanagawa, Japan, (iii) the GeoRisk Conference (GRC) inMadrid, Spain, and (iv) the Workshop on Climatic and Environmental Changes (CCEC) inBeijing, China.
Union Associations organized and co-sponsored many scientific events in different departements.- IUGG bestowed new Early Career Scientist Award on ten outstanding young scientists.- IUGG awarded four grants to international interdisciplinary projects as well as co-sponsoredfifteen scientific meetings and six science education events worldwide.- The first volume of the Special Publication of the IUGG “Extreme Natural Hazards, DisasterRisks and Societal Implications” was published by the Cambridge University Press in May, andthe second volume is to be published in early 2015.- IUGG took part in the General Assembly of the International Council for Science (ICSU) heldin Auckland, New Zealand, and participated in the ICSU GeoUnions Steering Committeemeeting. IUGG Liaisons participated in the business meetings of ICSU Scientific Committeeson Space Research (COSPAR), on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP), on Scientific Data(CODATA), and on World Data System (WDS) as well as attended the InternationalGeosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP) Steering Committee meeting.- IUGG cooperated with inter-governmental organizations in promoting scientific knowledge.IUGG became a Participating Member of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and aMember of the Partnership Advisory Committee of the Global Framework on Climate Services(GFCS). IUGG assisted the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) toprepare the 2015 Science and Technology Conference. The Union participated in several eventsof the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), including the WMO Executive Councilmeeting, and attended the Preparatory Committee meeting for the Third UN World Conferenceon Disaster Risk Reduction.- The International Council for Science (ICSU) awarded a grant to the IUGG project “Uniting andnetworking the magnetic community in the northern Indian Ocean region”.- The IUGG Bureau met in Baku, Azerbaijan, in June and had a teleconference in November todiscuss the current activities and to determine the directions in the Union’s development beforethe General Assembly in Prague, Czech Republic.- The IUGG Secretariat was hosted by the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) inPotsdam. IUGG is grateful to GFZ and the German Research Foundation (DFG) for generoussupport of the Secretariat.The IUGG Bureau thanks the Adhering Bodies and National Committees, Union Associations andCommissions as well as all individuals who helped making the year 2014 exciting and productive instrengthening international cooperation in Earth and space sciences for the benefit of humanity.
Yearbook for 2015The 2015 Yearbook is now electronically available in PDF format at the IUGG web site(http://www.iugg.org/publications/yearbooks/yearbook2015.pdf). The IUGG web site maintains thedirectory of Union and Association officials and the archive of IUGG memberships and GeneralAssemblies. Thanks to all of the National Committees and the Associations for helping to updatethe information in the IUGG Yearbook! During 2015, updates on addresses and other informationin the Yearbook should be sent to the IUGG Secretariat (secretariat@iugg.org) as soon as they areknown. Our aim is to update the Yearbook as needed throughout the year. The 2015 Yearbook willbe published together with the 2014 Annual Report and sent to the National Members in May 2015.3. Union membership and financial situationAs of 1 January 2015, IUGG has 70 National Members including 60 countries in paying status. Thepaying members are placed in categories from 1 to 14 depending on the financial contribution to theUnion (the membership dues raises with increasing category number). At present the highestcategory used is category 11. The members pay dues according to a number of units assigned totheir category (in category 1 the number of units is 1, and in category 11 the number is 35).According to a decision of the XXII IUGG General Assembly (Boulder, USA, 1995) the price of 1unit is determined every year using an inflator index obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics,U.S. Department of Labor. In 2015, the price of 1 unit will be US$1,905. The 70 paying membersrepresent a total of 280 units, which is equivalent to a total income of US$ 533,400. The fundsreceived as dues are the basis for IUGG’s operation as a scientific union, although Unionassociations have their own funds earned via book selling or donations. The funds are spent tosupport (i) international scientific programs, projects and services, (ii) general and scientificassemblies, symposia, workshops, and schools; (iii) travel of students, early career scientists, andscientists from developing countries to attend scientific meetings; (iv) scientific activities of UnionAssociations and Commissions, (v) the International Lithosphere Program, (vi) the InternationalCouncil for Science, and (vii) administration and management.Received from Aksel Hansen, IUGG Treasurer4. Abstract Deadline for the XXVI IUGG General AssemblyThe Local Organizing Committee and the Scientific Program Committee of the XXVI IUGGGeneral Assembly announced the following revised abstract submissions dates:- Thursday, 15 January 2015, due date for the abstract submission in case of an applicationfor a travel grant award; and- 31 January, due date for the abstract submission.Other important dates to be marked in your calendar:- 31 March, due date for the notification of paper acceptance and successful grantapplication;- 10 April, early bird registration deadline.
Please read carefully he abstract submission guidelines before submitting your abstract at:http://www.iugg2015prague.com/abstract-submission-guidelines.htm. All presenters are limited totwo oral presentations, except for the invited Union Plenary Lecturers, who may present two oralpresentations in addition to their Union lectures. For all abstract submission and registration details,and the scientific program outline, go to: http://www.iugg2015prague.com.5. Reminder: Delegate certifications needed for the IUGG Council MeetingThe official notification of the XXVI IUGG General Assembly was sent to IUGG Adhering Bodiesand National Committees on 23 July 2014. The letter asked the Adhering Bodies to send the nameof their Delegate to the IUGG Council to the IUGG Secretariat by 1 February 2015. This deadlineensures that the Council Delegates will receive the Council Meeting Agenda papers and otherimportant information such as the venue of the meetings. In addition, all Adhering Bodies shouldissue credentials for their Delegates to the Association business meetings.6. IUGG grants to support geoscience education meetings in 2015IUGG awarded seven grants (US$20,000 in total) to support workshops and training schoolsorganized by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP, Trieste, Italy) in2015 as recommended by the IUGG Committee on Capacity Building and Education and inaccordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between IUGG and ICTP signed in 2011. Thelist of the events co-sponsored by IUGG is as follows:- Workshop on Ionospheric effects on SBAS and GBAS applications at Low Latitudes, 2-13March, ICTP, Italy;- School on Ocean Climate Modelling: Physical and Biogeochemical Dynamics of Semi-enclosed Seas, 7-15 September, Ankara, Turkey;- Workshop on Earthquakes in the Zagros-Makran region: from Mechanics to Mitigation, 21-31 May, Tehran, Iran;- Third Workshop on Water Resources in Developing Countries: Planning and Managementin Face of Hydro-climatological Extremes and Variability, 27 April – 8 May, ICTP, Italy;- Workshop on Modelling of Wildfires and their Environmental Impacts, 22-26 June, ICTP,Italy;- Workshop on Uncertainty Quantification in Climate Modeling and Projection, 13-17 July,ICTP, Italy; and- International School on Geothermal Exploration, 7-12 December, ICTP, Italy.Founded in 1964 by the late Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam and co-sponsored by UNESCO, IAEA,and the Italian government, the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics - ICTP(http://www.ictp.it) seeks to accomplish its mandate by providing scientists from developingcountries with the continuing education and skills that they need to enjoy long and productivecareers. ICTP has been a major force in stemming the scientific brain drain from the developingworld. The impact of ICTP extends well beyond the Centre's facilities to virtually every corner ofthe Earth. The Earth System Physics (ESP) Section of ICTP studies a wide spectrum of the Earthsystem, from its fluid components (oceans and the atmosphere) to the planet's interior. IUGG and
5ICTP decided to enhance geophysical and geodetic education and science collaboration and signeda Memorandum of Understanding to promote educational programs related to geodesy and geophysics for the next quadrennium (2012-2015). Among other points, the agreement encouragescollaboration in the organization of advanced schools/workshops in geodesy and geophysics inICTP or in economically less developed countries; in the development of diploma courses related toEarth and space sciences; and in the dissemination of information on educational and scientificmeetings.7. IUGG and climate servicesThe Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) is, to quote the official wording, “a UN-ledinitiative spearheaded by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to guide the developmentand application of science-based climate information and services in support of decision-making.The GFCS has four initial priority sectors: agriculture and food security, water, health and disasterrisk reduction. The vision of the GFCS is to enable society to better manage the risks andopportunities arising from climate variability and change, especially for those who are mostvulnerable to such risks. This will be done through development and incorporation of science-basedclimate information and prediction into planning, policy and practice. The greatest value of theGFCS will occur incrementally through the delivery of a multitude of climate services at national orlocal levels.” There is a lot of support for climate service activities at both national and internationallevels and the GFCS offers a new and logical framework within which to promote and coordinatesuch activities. Given the close association between WMO and IUGG over many decades, it wasonly logical that the Union expressed an interest in being involved in the GFCS. As a result, theUnion has been invited to all GFCS meetings and is listed as a member of the Partner AdvisoryCommittee. Having said this, IUGG now faces the challenge of identifying exactly how the Unioncan contribute to the GFCS and what it would gain by doing so. To this end, a panel discussion willbe held during the IUGG General Assembly in Prague, where the Framework will be presented andthe IUGG Associations most concerned will be invited to open a debate on how best the Union canrespond to this new invitation to high-level co-operation.Arthur Askew, an IUGG Liaison Officer to the WMO8. Report on the XI GEO PlenaryThe XI Plenary of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) was held on 13-14 November inGeneva, Switzerland. As a Participating Organization of GEO, IUGG was invited to attend themeeting. The IUGG Secretary General Alik Ismail-Zadeh represented the Union and addressed thePlenary. The following topics were considered at the meeting: (i) GEO Strategic andImplementation Plans for 2016-2025; (ii) GEO engagement strategy; (iii) data managementprinciples and mechanisms to ensure legal interoperability of shared data; (iv) monitoring andevaluation of implementation of the Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS); and (v)AfriGEOSS implementation plan. The Plenary approved the budget for 2015 and the membershipof the implementation board, updated the rules of procedure, and considered the GEO ExecutiveCommittee and the financial reports. The XII GEO Plenary and the Ministerial Summit will be heldin the fall of 2015.
News from the International Council for ScienceGlobal conference on science advice to governments: final report availableThe synthesis report of the first international conference of practitioners and scholars on ScienceAdvice to Governments which took place in Auckland earlier this year is now available at : pleine-lune.org . The conference, which took place in August ahead of ICSU’sGeneral Assembly, was convened by the International Council for Science (ICSU) and hosted byNew Zealand’s Chief Science Advisor Sir Peter Gluckman. It brought together some 200participants including science advisors, senior officials, representatives of national academies,experts and scholars from more than 40 countries across Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, theUnited States, Canada and Latin America. The aims of the conference were (i) to create an informalspace for open discussion about the practice of science advice; (ii) to start to build a peer network ofscience advice practitioners and scholars; and (iii) to respond to the growing global interest in therole of the scientific voice in policy-making and assess whether it is possible to develop a set ofguiding principles for science advice. ICSU will continue to work closely with Gluckman’s officeand other members of the Organizing Committee to develop follow up activities in 2015.CFRS supports scientists whose human rights are under threat as a result of scientific activityThe Chair of ICSU's Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in the conduct of Science (CFRS),Leiv K. Sydnes, recently attended a court hearing in Turkey against the scientist Büşra Ersanlı. Inadvocating the globally endorsed Principle of Universality of Science, ICSU also supports scientistswhose human rights are violated or who are imprisoned as a result of them conducting scientificwork. CFRS had monitored the situation related to the case of this female scientist since she wasfirst imprisoned. Ersanlı, a faculty member in the Department of Political Science and InternationalRelations at Marmara University in Istanbul, was arrested in October 2011 as part of a crackdownon Kurdish political parties. She was charged with suspected links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party(PKK). Ersanlı was in fact a member of the Assembly of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP),and she never advocated violence. CFRS wrote to the Turkish authorities expressing concern, andasked for her unconditional release on bail or for further information on the causes of herimprisonment. In July 2012, she was released, pending the outcome of the trial. Sydnes met Ersanlıin August 2013 in Istanbul to discuss her case and to confirm the Committee’s continued support.Although no final verdict was taken and the court deferred the cases to the Constitutional Court inAnkara, Ersanlı says the presence of Leiv Sydnes in the courtroom as a foreign witness “made adifference.” CFRS will continue to monitor the case of Ersanlı and intervene as appropriate.Source: ICSU webpage10. Meeting calendarA calendar of meetings of interest to IUGG disciplines (especially those organized by IUGGAssociations) is posted on the IUGG website (http://www.IUGG.org/calendar). Specificinformation about these meetings can be found there. Individual Associations also list moremeetings on their websites according to their disciplines.
January- 9-10, URSI, Hooghly, West Bengal, India, International Conference on Foundations andFrontiers of Computer, Electrical Engineering : commemorating 150 years of Maxwell'sEquations. Web: http://www.ursi.org/en/event_item.asp?id=315- 10-13, IMU, San Antonio, TX, USA, 2015 Joint Mathematics Meetings. Web:http://jointmathematicsmeetings.org/jmm- 14-16, IRDR, Science Council of Japan, Tokyo, Japan. The Tokyo Conference onInternational Study for disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience. Web: http://monsoon.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/AWCI/TokyoConf/en/index.htm- 19-23, GCW CryoNet and Steering Group Joint Meeting, Copenhagen, DenmarkFebruary- 25-27, ISPRS, Avila, Spain, 3D-ARCH: International Workshop on 3D VirtualReconstruction and Visualization of Complex Architectures. Web: http://www.3d-arch.orgMarch- 2-6, IACS, IGS, ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal, International Symposium on Glaciology inHigh-Mountain Asia. Web: http://www.icimod.org/igs2015/- 14-18, UNISDR, Sendai, Japan, 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2015.Web: http://www.wcdrr.org/- 23-27, IACS, IAMAS, Rosendal, Norway, Dynamics of Atmosphere-Ice-Ocean Interactionsin the High-Latitudes Workshop. Web: http://highlatdynamics.b.uib.no- 23-28, WCRP, Rottach-Egern, Germany, WCRP Grand Challenge Workshop: Clouds,Circulation and Climate Sensitivity. Web: http://www.mpimet.mpg.de/en/science/the-atmosphere-in-the-earth-system/ringberg-workshop.html- 25-27, ISPRS, Munich, Germany, Photogrammetric Image Analysis & HRIGI High resolutionearth imaging for geospatial information. Web:http://www.pf.bgu.tum.de/isprs/pia15/index.htmlEnd of IUGG Electronic Journal Volume 15 Number 1 (1 January 2015)Editor: Alik Ismail-Zadeh, Secretary General (Alik.Ismail-Zadeh@kit.edu)Associate Editor: Franz Kuglitsch, Executive Secretary / Assistant Secretary General (fgkugl@gfz-potsdam.de)Note: Contributions to IUGG E-Journal are welcome from members of the IUGG family.Please send your contributions to Alik Ismail-Zadeh by e-mail (insert in Subject line:contribution to E-Journal). The contributions will be reviewed and may be shortened.