Application Procedure for National Membership

The procedure for submission and approval of a National Membership application is described in the Working Rules (§ II and III) .  A brief summary of the procedures is given below.  Deadlines for proposals to be considered at the IAU XXVIII General Assembly to be held in Beijing in August 2012 is 1 September 2011.

Dues to the Union are paid annually by National Members.  These dues are defined by the Category of Adherence of each country, each category corresponding to defined number of Units of Contribution; National Members with interim status pay one-half Unit of Contribution annually.  The approved Units of Contribution are EUR (euros) 2540, 2616, and 2695 per year for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.  Contributions for the period 2013-2015 will be fixed by the IAU XXVIII General Assembly.

NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP IN THE IAU  –  APPLICATIONS FOR 2012

The IAU welcomes National Membership for any country that wishes to promote astronomy.  National Membership resides with an organization that represents the professional astronomical community of that country.   The organization makes application for membership to the IAU General Secretary, at least eight months before the next IAU General Assembly. The General Secretary forwards the application to the Executive Committee for its recommendation to the next IAU General Assembly. (IAU Statutes §IV.5-10, Bye-Laws §I.1-2, Working Rules §II.1-2).

 The IAU Executive Committee bases its decision on information that is provided by the national organization, and which should include:

1. A description of the organization requesting IAU National Membership, including its role in the astronomical activity of the country.  The basic organizational structure, key personnel, and funding sources of the organization should be explained.
2. An overview of the professional astronomical activities in the country for the past six years, including a listing of its astronomical institutes, its number of professional astronomers, and its astronomical or astronomical related projects.  Submission of available annual reports is encouraged.
3. A plan for the development of astronomical research and education of the country concerned in the coming six years.
4. The class of IAU National Membership the country is seeking, and the Category of Adherence to which it wishes to adhere (Bye-Laws §VII.25).

The IAU Executive Committee would appreciate knowing of specific benefits to local astronomical activity and development that are expected by the National Member from its membership in the Union.

Requests for information and expressions of interest in National Membership should be addressed,

before 1 September 2011, to:

Ian Corbett

IAU General Secretary

International Astronomical Union

98 bis  blvd. Arago

F-75014  Paris

France

Formal proposals are due before 1 December 2011.