1. Opening and Welcome
The President of the IAU, Dr. Silvia Torres-Peimbert, welcomed the delegates and members to this first business session of the General Assembly. The President invited the General Secretary, Dr. Piero Benvenuti, to start the session.
2. Representatives of IAU National Members
The General Secretary listed the representatives of the National Members (IAU member countries). They are given in the table at the end of this Chapter.
The columns list separately:
-
- the National Members
-
- the dues category
-
- the number of votes attached to each National Representative
-
- the representative for general business matters
-
- the representative for membership matters
Note that “Interim” National Members or National Members suspended because they are in arrears of their dues do not vote, even if they have appointed a Representative.
The National Representatives for general business matters discuss and vote on financial matters, as well as propose nominations and elect the Finance Committee for the triennium. The National Representatives for membership discuss and vote on Individual Members issues, including nominations and electing the Special Nominating Committee (SNC) and the Membership Committee.
3. Adoption of Agenda
The delegates approved the agenda of the meeting as published in the Program Book.
4. Reminder of Voting Rules
The President reminded the delegates and the members about the voting rules, depending on the nature of the vote, as specified in the Statutes 14 and 15, namely:
Voting at the General Assembly on issues of a primarily scientific nature, as determined by the Executive Committee, is by Individual Members. Voting on all other matters is by National Member. Each National Member authorises a representative to vote on its behalf.
On questions involving the budget of the Union, the number of votes for each National Member is one greater than the number of its category. National Members with Interim status, observer status, or those who have not paid their dues for years preceding that of the General Assembly, may not participate in the voting. On questions concerning the administration of the Union, but not involving its budget, each National Member has one vote, under the same condition of payment of dues as above.
The decisions of the General Assembly are taken by an absolute majority of the votes cast. However, a decision to change the Statutes requires the approval of at least two thirds of all National Members having the right to vote by virtue of article 14.a. Where there is an equal division of votes, the President determines the issue.
To enable the widest possible participation of Individual Members the Executive Committee may decide that voting on certain issues of a primarily scientific nature, as determined by the Executive Committee, shall be open for electronic voting for not more than 31 days counting from the close of the General Assembly at which the issue was raised.
The Executive Committee shall give Members not less than 3 months notice before the opening of the General Assembly of the intention to open certain issues to electronic voting after the General Assembly.
5. Appointment of Official Tellers
The Official Tellers were duly approved:
Nader Haghighipour
Claus Leitherer
Chryssa Kouveliotou
6. Admission of New National Members to the Union
The General Secretary presented the following ten proposed new National Members, who were subsequently unanimously admitted to the Union:
Country: Algeria
Category: I
Adhering Organization: Centre de Recherche en Astronomie Astrophysique et Géophysique
Country: Cyprus
Category: I
Adhering Organization: Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation
Country: Ghana
Category: I
Adhering Organization: Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute
Country: Jordan
Category: I
Adhering Organization: Royal Jordanian Geographic Center
Country: Madagascar
Category: Observer
Adhering Organization: Malagasy Astronomy & Space Science Association
Country: Morocco
Category: Observer
Adhering Organization: Moroccan National Committee for Astronomy - Cadi Ayyad University
Country: Mozambique
Category: Observer
Adhering Organization: Universidade Eduardo Mondlane
Country: Slovenia
Category: I
Adhering Organization: Society of Mathematicians, Physicists and Astronomers of Slovenia
Country: Syria
Category: Observer
Adhering Organization: Syrian Astronomy Association
Country: United Arab Emirates
Category: II
Adhering Organization: Sharjah Center for Astronomy and Space Sciences
7. Report of the Executive Committee (2015–2018)
The report of the Executive Committee was presented by the General Secretary, Dr. Piero Benvenuti, and is presented in Chapter VI of these Transactions.
8. Presentation of Revisions to Statutes and Bye-Laws
The revisions of the Statutes to include new categories of Junior Member and Honorary Member, removal of time limits for a National Member to hold Interim or Observer status, and a clause about dissolution of the Union, were presented by the General Secretary and approved. There were no changes to the Bye-Laws. Working Rules are guidelines adopted by the Executive Committee for interpreting the Statutes and Bye-Laws.
The revised Statutes and the current Bye-Laws and Working Rules are presented in Chapter VIII of these Transactions.
9. Presentation of the IAU Strategic Plan 2020–2030
Ewine van Dishoeck, Incoming President, and Debra Elmegreen, Vice-President
The IAU Strategic Plan for 2010–2020, adopted at the XXVIIth General Assembly in 2009, was focused on the then-new Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) using astronomy in developing countries to impact UN Sustainable Development Goals. A resolution at the XXIXth General Assembly in 2015 specified that the Executive Committee should submit for approval at this General Assembly a new Strategic Plan to continue OAD activities. At the Executive Committee Meeting 98 in Mexico City, Mexico, a working group was formed to develop a new strategic plan. In contrast to the 2010–2020 plan, the Strategic Plan for 2020–2030 encompasses all aspects of the IAU, including new activities in the IAU and other IAU Offices in addition to OAD.
The IAU Mission (revised):
The mission of the International Astronomical Union is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects (including research, communication, education and development) through international cooperation
The process for developing the new strategic plan was as follows:
Spring 2016: Working group formed by EC 98
Debra Elmegreen, Ewine van Dishoeck, Renée Kraan-Korteweg, Piero Benvenuti
Spring 2017: Solicit input from OAD, OAO, ISYA, DPs, EC
July 2017: Face-to-face meeting Leiden
Summer/fall 2017: Writing
October 2017: Outline sent to entire IAU membership for comments
The main suggestion was the addition of an Office of Astronomy for Education
(OAE) by Teresa Lago
Winter 2017/2018: First full draft
Comments from OAD, EC, DPs
March 2018: Full draft to National Members
April 2018: Approval by EC
May 2018: Post to entire world at IAU website
May-July 2018: Typeset + print
August 2018: Proposed for approval at GA (Resolution A1)
The IAU Executive Committee, Divisions, Commissions, and Working Groups focus on the advancement of astronomy. They:
Stimulate and facilitate sharing of astronomical knowledge among professional astronomers
Coordinate professional tasks and interactions with other fields
Recognise excellence in astronomy through prizes
Diversify portfolio of prizes in next decade
Additional tasks and coordination:
Astronomical standards
Naming of astronomical objects and surface features
Dark and quiet sky protection
Global coordination of large facilities (just started)
Women in Astronomy
Junior Members (new)
Diversity and Inclusiveness
IAU Offices
The 4 offices (including the proposed OAE) carry out additional aspects of IAU activities. These Offices are:
The IAU Office for Young Astronomers (OYA)
The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD)
The IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO)
The proposed IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE)
The IAU Offices each develop detailed Strategic Plans that are consistent with the overall IAU Strategic Plan. The key IAU Office duties are as follows:
The Office for Young Astronomers (OYA) focuses on the training of young astronomers at University level. It organizes the International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA).
The Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) focuses on the use of astronomy for development by capitalizing on the field’s scientific, technological and cultural links and its impacts on society.
The Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) focuses on engaging with the public, providing access to astronomical information and astronomy communication. It maintains a network of National Outreach Contacts (NOCs) and amateur groups.
The proposed Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE) will focus on providing training and resources for using astronomy as a stimulus for teaching and education from elementary to high school level (astronomy and science education).
There are mandates for the intersections of OAO, OAE, OYA, OAD with each other and the IAU as a whole, and for interactions with other fields beyond Astronomy.
The new Strategic Goals laid out in the proposed IAU Strategic Plan for 2020–2030 are:
-
Goal 1: The IAU leads the worldwide coordination of astronomy and the fostering of communication and dissemination of astronomical knowledge among professional astronomers (EC, Divisions, Commissions, Working Groups)
-
Goal 2: The IAU promotes the inclusive advancement of the field of astronomy in every country (all; OYA; ISYA)
-
Goal 3: The IAU promotes the use of astronomy as a tool for development in every country (OAD)
-
Goal 4: The IAU engages the public in astronomy through access to astronomical information and communication of the science of astronomy (OAO)
-
Goal 5: The IAU stimulates the use of astronomy for teaching and education at school level (the new OAE)
For each goal, a number of actions have been formulated. The OAD, OAO and OAE specific goals and actions will be discussed at GA Focus Meetings and Division Days.
The first action by the IAU Executive Committee is to issue a Call for proposals to form an Office of Astronomy for Education, with these objectives:
Establish a network of National Astronomy Education Coordinators (NAECs)
Analyze use of astronomy in teaching in IAU countries and identify accessible materials and astronomy literacy guidelines (liase with educational ministries and curriculum experts)
Encourage standards for teacher training activities
Organize an annual International School for Astronomy Education (ISAE; for teachers)
Build a database of volunteer IAU members to contribute to teacher training
As we move forward, the IAU depends on its members for successful execution of the Strategic Plan. Be sure to get involved through Working Groups, Commissions, Divisions, and Offices, and encourage colleagues and early career astronomers to join the IAU. Thanks to all those who are already engaged!
10. Presentation of Resolutions
Bruce Elmegreen, Chair of the Resolutions Committee, presented the 5 Resolutions to be voted on at the Business Meeting II. These include one type “A” resolution concerning the administration of the IAU, and 4 type “B” scientific resolutions. The resolutions are presented in their entirety in Chapter V.
For Resolution B4 on a suggested renaming of the Hubble Law, Dr. Elmegreen made the following historical note:
de Sitter (1930) in “On the Magnitudes, Diameters and Distances of the Extragalactic Nebulae, and their Apparent Radial Velocities,” (BAN 5, 157) starts by saying:
“Lately several radial velocities of extragalactic nebulae have been published, all of which are large and positive. This makes the question of the distance of these objects of particular importance.” [ no references given ]
… 14 pages later, at the end, he states:
“It thus appears that a static solution of Einstein’s field equations cannot represent the observed facts. A non-static solution is contained in a paper by Dr. G. Lemaître [reference given], published in 1927, which had failed to attract my notice, but to which my attention was called by Professor Eddington only a few weeks ago. Lemaître finds a solution in which the radius of curvature increases with time… [he calculates the constant mass of the universe].
“I hope to return to the discussion of this ingenious solution in a separate communication.”
Dr. Elmegreen noted that discussions will take place during the Business Meeting II ahead of the voting.
11. Report of the Special Nominating Committee
The Special Nominating Committee proposed the following slate of nominations for IAU members for the Officers and Members of the IAU Executive Committee for the triennium 2018–2021:
12. Proposals to host XXXII General Assembly, 2024
Four full proposals were received to host the XXXII General Assembly in 2024:
Canada (Montreal)
Italy (Rome)
Mexico (Puebla)
South Africa (Cape Town)
The decision by the Executive Committee was announced at the second business meeting of the General Assembly (see Chapter III).
13. Closure of Session I
With the close of the session, e-voting is open for the NMs to cast their votes for:
-
Finance Committee
-
Membership Committee
-
Special Nominating Committee
There being no other business items to discuss, the President declared the session closed.
Figure 1. National Members and their Representatives (see §2). Credit: Piero Benvenuti, with the assistance of Rosaria d’Antonio and Madeleine Smith-Spanier
