IUGG: from different spheres to a common globe Hist. Geo Space Sci., 10, 45–72, 2019 https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-10-45-2019 © Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. IUGG evolves (1940–2000) Jo Ann Joselyn1,* and Alik Ismail-Zadeh2,3 1Space Environment Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado, USA 2Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Applied Geophysics, Karlsruhe, Germany 3International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, Secretariat, Potsdam, Germany *retired Correspondence: Jo Ann Joselyn (
[email protected]) and Alik Ismail-Zadeh (
[email protected]) Received: 7 November 2018 – Accepted: 22 December 2018 – Published: 16 April 2019 Abstract. The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) began anew after World War II with a new governance and membership structure. The technologies developed during the war were brought to bear in the extraordinary global scientific effort that was the International Geophysical Year (1957–1958). Major changes in the geopolitical landscape have brought about further changes in IUGG’s structure. International sci- entific campaigns encompassing multiple disciplines became commonplace, and international scientific bodies were organized and networked. During this time period (1940–1999), 15 general assemblies and 2 extraordinary general assemblies were held, each in a different international venue. Summaries of each general assembly are presented, as well as overviews of the changes in IUGG’s structure, finances, membership, and publications. The scientists, who led the Union and contributed to the development of the Union, are also presented. 1 Introduction 1983), Vancouver (Canada, 1987), Vienna (Austria, 1991), Boulder (USA, 1995), and Birmingham (UK, 1999).