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Beginning, Establishment and Early Development (1919- 1 1939)

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1 IUGG: Beginning, Establishment and Early Development (1919- 2 1939) 3 Alik Ismail-Zadeh1,2 and Jo Ann Joselyn3 * 4 1 Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Applied Geophysics, Karlsruhe, Germany 5 2 International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, Secretariat, Potsdam, Germany 6 3 Space Environment Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado, USA 7 * Retired 8 Correspondence to: Alik Ismail-Zadeh ([email protected]); Jo Ann Joselyn ([email protected]) 9 Abstract. The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) was established in 1919 to promote activities of 10 already-existing international scientific societies dealing with geodesy, terrestrial magnetism and electricity, meteorology, 11 physical oceanography, seismology, and volcanology. At the first General Assembly a section of scientific hydrology was 12 added, making a total of seven sections of the Union. This paper introduces IUGG by presenting its current mission, structure, 13 partners, and programs; discussing various international geophysical efforts before its origin; and, describing the Union’s 14 development from the end of World War I to the beginning of World War II. During this period (1919-1939), the number of 15 member countries increased from the nine founding member countries to 35; seven general assemblies were held, each in a 16 different international venue; and the number of delegates attending the assemblies increased from a few dozen to more than 17 800 scientists. At the Fifth General Assembly in 1933, the term “section” was replaced by “international association”. Each 18 general assembly of the Union, since the First General Assembly in Rome, Italy in 1922 to the VII General Assembly in 19 Washington, D.C., USA in 1939, is summarized, and the distinguished scientists who contributed to the Union’s formation 20 and it early development are introduced. 21 22 1 Introduction 23 24 The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG; http://www.iugg.org) celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2019. 25 Under its umbrella, eight international scientific associations and several interdisciplinary bodies comprising about one 26 hundred divisions, commissions, committees, working groups and geodetic and geophysical services, cover almost all 27 disciplines of geo- and space sciences and promote research of the Earth from its core to and its space environment up to the 28 Sun. It is dedicated to advancing basic (fundamental) science and to solving challenging societal problems such as climatic 29 and environmental changes, disaster risk reduction, water security and quality, and energy, among others. 30 31 Written for the occasion of IUGG’s centennial, this and two consecutive articles in this special issue document the history, 32 current activities, and possible future development of IUGG. To appreciate the history of IUGG, we start the paper with a 33 description of the Union, its current structure, partnerships, and operating principles. Then we look back to examine the 34 founding and early history of the Union from the end of the First World War (WWI) and the beginning of the Second World 35 War (WWII) including descriptions of early General Assemblies and distinguished leaders. Two other papers cover (i) the 36 Union’s history after WWII until the end of the last century and (ii) its development in the 21st century. These papers do not 37 pretend to offer a comprehensive and definitive account of all activities of the Union for the last hundred years, but rather 38 highlight major activities of and administrative and structural changes in IUGG during that time. 39 1 40 2 IUGG today 41 42 IUGG is a dynamic non-governmental, not-for-profit, scientific organization that brings together scientists and science 43 organizations from many countries in which geophysical sciences and geodesy have a role. IUGG encompasses multiple 44 scientific disciplines through its associations and commissions, and hundreds of thousands of individuals from all over the 45 world through its Adhering Organizations (e.g., national academies, research councils, governmental agencies). IUGG has a 46 long and storied history; about 100 countries have been IUGG members for a full century, and since its founding in 1919, the 47 Union has had two official languages: English and French. The official title of the Union in French is l’Union Géodésique et 48 Géophysique Internationale (UGGI). 49 50 IUGG is governed by a Council of its Adhering Bodies, and cooperates with an impressive list of international and 51 intergovernmental organizations. Any country that has developed independent activity in geodesy and geophysics may adhere 52 to the Union. National Members (the Adhering Body) set up IUGG National Committees that organize IUGG-related activities 53 in their countries. Many scientists participate in Union activities through these National Committees and represent their 54 countries at IUGG general assemblies. 55 56 Presently, there are four categories of membership: Regular (the Adhering body has paid annual dues set by the Finance 57 Committee); Observer (payment of dues has temporarily lapsed); Associate (the Adhering Body otherwise meets the criteria 58 for regular membership but does not pay dues); and Affiliate (organizations awarded the same rights, duties and obligations 59 as Associate Members). Membership waxes and wanes for reasons including changes in financial circumstances, politics, and 60 scientific activity. For instance, financial problems experienced by a scientific institution adhering to the union may lead to 61 the loss of membership for the country involved. Many political borders have changed since 1919, which at times affects 62 member countries. Less affluent countries may lack a critical mass of scientists to share the mission and major purposes of 63 international unions, or severe political, economic, and financial problems may prevent regular membership (Ismail-Zadeh, 64 2016a). Scientists in these countries are encouraged to participate in IUGG's scientific activities for the benefit of science in 65 their countries and for their contribution to geographic coverage that is crucial for global geoscience. 66 67 Between face-to-face meetings of the Council that take place at quadrennial General Assemblies of the Union, the affairs of 68 the Union are vested in the Bureau and the Executive Committee (Fig. 1). The Bureau consists of the President, President- 69 Elect, Secretary General, Treasurer, and three additional Members, elected by the Council. The Executive Committee consists 70 of the Bureau, the Presidents of the International Associations, and the immediate Past President of the Union. The Executive 71 Committee coordinates the scientific work of the Associations and formulates the general policies that guide the scientific 72 objectives of the Union. At each General Assembly, a Finance Committee of three members is elected also by the Council. 73 Besides advising the Council, Bureau, and the Executive Committee on financial matters, the Finance Committee receives and 74 reviews audits of the accounts, advises the Treasurer on preparing the budget and on raising funds to support Union and 75 Association activities, and reviews the category of membership of National Members. Also at each General Assembly, the 76 Council adopts resolutions, i.e., statements affirming a scientific finding or plan of action. These findings are generally 77 recommended to the Council Members by the Associations, which must first adopt the matter at their Association Scientific 78 Assemblies. These resolutions are powerful endorsements of scientific viewpoints that have been used to establish standard 79 nomenclature and methods of measurement, support international scientific campaigns, align global scientific opinion, and 80 obtain funding from governmental and non-governmental agencies. From time to time, between General Assemblies, the IUGG 81 Bureau may issue statements expressing a unanimous opinion on a topic of scientific significance. The most recent statement 2 82 issued 12 June 2017 was entitled “The Earth’s climate and responsibilities of scientists and their governments to promote 83 sustainable development”. 84 85 2.1 Union structure 86 87 IUGG is dedicated to advancing, promoting, and communicating knowledge of the Earth system, its space environment, and 88 the dynamical processes causing change. IUGG is a confederation of eight semi-autonomous international scientific 89 associations, each having its own executives, and is responsible for a specific domain of topics or themes within the overall 90 scope of Union activities. These associations are: 91 • International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS) 92 • International Association of Geodesy (IAG) 93 • International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) 94 • International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) 95 • International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (IAMAS) 96 • International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans (IAPSO) 97 • International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior (IASPEI) 98 • International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) 99 100 Within the framework of the Union’s statutes and by-laws, its International Associations adopt their own statutes and by-laws 101 and control their administration and finance. The beginning, establishment, and historical development of the Union 102 Associations
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