Resolutions of the 28th and 29th General Assemblies

IUBS 29th General Assembly

Resolutions

1 IUBS Scientific Programmes

Current programmes:

Integrative Biology

Resolution 1.1 : That support for the Integrative Biology Committee be maintained. That this be chaired by Pr ofessor Motonori Hoshi.

Diversitas

Resolution 1.2 : That IUBS maintains links with Diversitas through ex officio Science Committee member, Professor Christoph Scheidegger.

Human Dimensions of Biodiversity

Resolution 1.3 : That the science plan of this programme be reviewed by Professor Kamal Bawa. If necessary, a proposal for further support may be submitted to the IUBS Executive Committee for consideration.

Systematics Agenda

Resolution 1.4 : That as the aims of this programme have been achieved, that it be closed.

Biological Education

Resolution 1.5 : That support for the Biological Education Programme be maintained. That this be chaired by Professor John Jungck.

Bioethics

Resolution 1.6 : That support for the Bioethics Programme be maintained. That this be chaired by Profesoor John Buckeridge.

Bionomenclature

Resolution 1.7 : That as the aims of this programme have been achieved, that it be closed.

New Programmes

Biology and Traditional Knowledge

Resolution 1.8 : That support for a programme on Biology and Traditional Knowledge be initiated. That this be chaired by Professor Jan Salick, Missouri Botanical Garden. And that this programme investigate potential inter-Union Programme with the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES).

Global Change: Migration of species and Spatial Dynamics of Communities Dispersal: Reproduction

Resolution 1.9 : That support for a programme encompassing Global Change, Migration of species and Spatial Dynamics of Communities Dispersal and Reproduction be initiated. That this be chaired by Professors Christoph Scheidegger and Mikael Fortelius. Outcomes to include a symposium, edited volume and a position paper.

BioEnergy

Resolution 1.10 : That support for a programme on bioenergy be initiated. That this include Professors Anna Palmisano, Chantal Astier, and an IUBS Executive Committee Member.

Outcomes may include a symposium, edited volume and postition papers

From Darwin's Birthday to the publication of the Origin of Species

Resolution 1.11 : That the IUBS establish a programme to celebrate 2009 as a „Darwin Year“. To be chaired by Professor Giorgio Bernardi.

Programme Finances

Resolution 1.12 : That €5000,00 per year be allocated for each programme. That continued support for years 2 and 3 of the triennium be contingent upon a business plan being accepted by the IUBS Executive Committee at the end of the first year. Purpose of grant: for website development and maintenance, secreatriat.

2. Admissions

Resolution 2 : For future admissions as Scientific and Associate Member of the IUBS, the applicant body should have been active for at least three years prior to its application for membership to the IUBS. This would permit an objective assessment of the applicant body/organization in relation to Objectives and activities of the IUBS.

3. Nominations

Preamble: The Nominating Committee for the IUBS 29 th General Assembly urges Ordinary and Scientific Members to take seriously Resolution #1 as approved by the 28 th General Assembly in Cairo in January, 2004. It is important to further enhance the diversity of science, gender, geography, age, etc., represented by the IUBS officers and Executive Committee members in order that IUBS have the breadth of perspective necessary for IUBS to maintain and increase its leadership in internationally collaborative science.

Resolution 3 : That the period for nomination of IUBS Officers be extended to one year before the General Assembly.

4. Finance

Resolution 4 : That the following Resolution be endorsed by the General Assembly for consideration by the Executive Committee:

•  Members which have not paid their dues for 3 consecutive years or even more without having given plausible explanation for the default and not applying for putting off termination of membership shall be considered as “suspended members” for one year only.

•  They shall be informed in writing about the termination of membership after one year.

•  If these members are willing to pay in future, the treasurer shall negotiate the level of accumulated debt.

Recommendations

1. That the annual general statements of the auditors on the IUBS be included on the balance sheet in the General Assembly documents.

2a. That the MERRILL LYNCH account be closed with all monies being transferred to a European bank, e.g. CREDIT LYONNAIS .

2b. That a professional finance advisor be consulted when investing funds.

2c. That preference be given to deposits in Euros, but that a reasonable proportion of IUBS assets in US$ be maintained.

3a. That a new system of annual dues for Ordinary Members be adopted, as presented in the treasurer's report.

3b. That all Ordinary Members dues be paid in Euros, in order to avoid the significant losses on exchange during the last triennium.

4. No general revision of the Ordinary Members' adherence to their dues category is required, however the Executive Committee could address selected members to reconcile their dues category.

5. As stated in the Treasurer's Report, the G.A. should encourage the IUBS Ordinary and Scientific Members to provide financial support to specific scientific initiatives and programmes on an ad hoc basis.

5. Communication:

Resolution 5 : That the activities and outcomes of this General Assembly – Symposium be communicated to all members.

This communication should encompass the following sentiments:

The 29 th General Assembly of the International Union of Biological Sciences acknowledges the participation of the 194 members of representative bodies from 42 countries. This forum addressed the new and urgent challenges for the biological sciences that underpin sustainable development. A new era has dawned for the biological sciences in this rôle, integrating and sharing information and perspectives within disciplines including biological, physical and social sciences.

6. The 30 th IUBS General Assembly

That the 30 th General Assembly of the IUBS be held in South Africa in November, 2009.

7. Final Resolution

In recognising the significant planning that this General Assembly and Symposium has required, The International Union of Biological Sciences wishes to warmly commend and express our sincere thanks to our hosts, and sponsors, for a most successful, rewarding, and enjoyable meeting.

Resolutions of the 28th General Assembly

Committee on Resolutions
Alan Bittles, Chairman (Australia)
Chang Hung Chou (China, Taipei)
Braulio Dias (Brazil)
Edgardo Gomez (The Philippines)
Mary McIntyre (New Zealand)

Resolutions were received from:

1.    Prof. J.-C. Mounolou and the ad hoc Nominations Committee of the 28th IUBS General Assembly: 'Procedures for nominations to IUBS Offices'.

2.    Prof. J. Buckeridge (New Zealand) and Prof. Zhibin Zhang (China ) on: 'The re-activation of a learned society for the zoological sciences (The International Society of Zoological Sciences)'.

3.    Prof. D. Potts (U.S.A.) on:
3a. 'Capacity Building'; and 3b 'Collaboration with Scientific Members'.

4.    Prof. D. Potts (U.S.A.) and representatives from Brazil, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on:
4a.  'Establishment of a Working Group to explore access to biological materials and information';
4b.  'Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)'; and
4c.  'Interactions between IUBS and CBD'.

5.   Prof. G.F. De Stefano (Italy) and the IAHB Committee on: 'Incorporation of the Human Dimensions programme within TAIB'.

6.   Prof. A.H. Bittles (Australia) and Dr. M. McIntyre (New Zealand) on: 'Funding arrangements for Ordinary members of IUBS'.

7.  Prof. B. Kakuyo (Canada) and the CBD Secretariat on: 'Recommendations of the 2004 joint CBD-UNESCO-IUBS Workshop'.

8.  The Executive Committee, IUBS on: 'The organization of the 28th General Assembly'.

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Resolution 1
Prof. J.-C. Mounolou (France), and the IUBS Nominations Committee:

1a. 'For the 29th General Assembly and onwards, a formal call for nominations is to be circulated by the Executive Director one year in advance of the general Assembly to ALL ordinary AND Scientific members.

1b. 'Candidacies can emerge from the whole biological community independently of any IUBS affiliations. 1c. 'In return, nomination proposals are to present BOTH the candidates AS WELL AS their commitment to the IUBS mission AND expectations.'

Resolution 2
Profs. J. Buckeridge (New Zealand) and Zhibin Zhang (China):

'The General Assembly supports the re-activation of a learned society for the zoological sciences, hereafter termed the International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS).'

Resolution 3
Prof. D. Potts (U.S.A.) and the U.S. National Committee of IUBS:

3a. 'The General Assembly urges the IUBS Executive Committee to be pro-active in seeking new members from under-represented regions, and to subsequently assist them in enhancing their biological capacity building'.

3b.  'The General Assembly urges the Executive Committee to establish policies and procedures to increase the number and the visibility of IUBS sponsorships and joint activities with Scientific Members. Further, the Executive should report the results of these endeavors to the 29th General Assembly'.

Resolution 4
Prof. D. Potts (U.S.A.), and representatives from Brazil, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland:

4a. 'Given concerns as to the conduct of research and the achievement of the objectives of both the IUBS and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the General Assembly directs the Executive Committee to establish a Working Group to explore the issues of access and benefit sharing; to initiate activities that enhance scientific input to the CBD process; to prepare the scientific community for compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks; and to facilitate the types of science that are particularly relevant to the CBD. The Working Group should explore such issues as: national and global regulations; exchanges of biological and palaeological material and information; research guidelines; codes of conduct; and education of scientists and other stakeholders'.

4b. 'The General Assembly directs the Executive Committee to invite Ordinary Members (and their National Committees) and Scientific Members to consider on behalf of their countries, regions or disciplines: the manner in which the CBD is implemented; the nature and impacts of regulation; the awareness of issues of access and benefit sharing; and the education of scientists and other stakeholders. Ordinary and Scientific Members should be encouraged to initiate activities that strengthen the roles of science, and to engage with the policy-making and regulatory process'.

4c. 'The General Assembly directs the Executive Committee to approach the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the CBD for the purposes of:

i) informing the CoP of current actions of the IUBS in respect to the CBD;
ii) encouraging the CoP to include appropriate participation of the scientific community in the negotiations for the International Regime on Benefit Sharing; and,
iii) requesting the CoP to establish a consultative process on the best mechanisms for involving the broad scientific community in providing scientific input into the CBD process'.

Resolution 5
Prof. G.F. De Stefano and the IAHB Committee:

'That the General Assembly approves continuation and expansion of the Human Dimensions programme within TAIB. Foci for the incoming triennium should include:

i) The promotion of consciousness and self-identity of human populations, in particular among 'marginal' communities, thus facilitating their cultural and social integration within the wider society;
ii) Promotion of an integrative approach to the teaching and study of Human Biology in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes;
iii) Studies concerned with human well-being, mainly within biomedical, biosocial and sociodemographic contexts, via trans-disciplinary approaches to complex biological phenomena including growth, population sub-structure and ageing.'

Resolution 6
Prof. A.H. Bittles (Australia) and Dr. M. McIntyre (New Zealand):

'The General Assembly calls upon the Executive Committee to review and to rationalize the funding arrangements for Ordinary Members of IUBS, and to circulate their deliberations and specific recommendations to ALL Members one year prior to the 29th General Assembly'.

Resolution 7
The Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat:

7a. 'The General Assembly requests the Executive Committee to take note of the Report, and in particular the recommendations, of the joint CBD-UNESCO-IUBS Workshop held on 19 January 2004;

7b. 'The General Assembly further requests the Executive Committee to engage in a process of dialogue and consultation with the Secretariat of the CBD, UNESCO, ICSU, and other relevant academic and research organizations and institutions in the IUBS community, to determine practical modalities for responding to the recommendations of the joint CBD-UNESCO-IUBS Workshop;

7c. 'The General Assembly also requests the Executive Committee to marshal the necessary expertise and resources of appropriate institutions and organizations and to coordinate their respective inputs and contributions in addressing the identified research, training, education and public awareness priorities of the programmes of work of the Convention on Biological Diversity'.

Resolution 8
The IUBS Executive Committee:

'The 28th General Assembly records its sincere gratitude to the hosts of the Cairo meeting. In particular, the Assembly wishes to acknowledge the valued presence of Prof. Mahmoud Hafez, the efforts of the Academy of Research and Technology of Egypt, the Egyptian National Committee of IUBS, and the invaluable support offered by the Regional Office of UNESCO, Cairo'.

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The above resolutions were approved by vote at the IUBS General Assembly on 22 January; 2004