The 34th IUBS General Assembly was held from 10th to 12th March at Korakuen Campus, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Chuo University, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Welcome address of Pr. LS Shashidhara, IUBS President
On behalf of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS), I welcome you all to its 34th General Assembly. IUBS was founded in 1919 to promote international cooperation and free exchange of knowledge and data on biological sciences, specifically in the domains of bio-nomenclature, ecology, biodiversity, public health, agriculture, etc. For the past three years the humanity is going through one of its worst pandemics. Notwithstanding the rapid spread of the pathogenic virus across the globe due to our increasingly mobile lifestyle, scientists and public health experts could effectively integrate ecology, evolution, population biology, cell and molecular biology, data science and social sciences to reduce the impact of the pandemic considerably. Lessons learnt from the pandemic emphasises the importance of unified biology and open data science policy for achieving sustainable development and equity. It is therefore very appropriate that the 34th GA of IUBS will focus on the theme “Biological Science for Sustainable Living”.
I look forward to your active participation in the GA and in our scientific programs to achieve our common goal.
For more information and details please visit the GA website
Summary of the reports of the ad hoc Committees and of the 34th General Assembly decisions
The Nominations Committee
Members: Santiago Merino (teller), Lily Rodriguez, LS Shashidhara, Hiroyuki Takeda (teller), Marvalee Wake
The Nominations Committee worked ahead of the General Assembly. Based on the nominations received, the committee prepared a slate with 9 positions. The slate was sent to IUBS members on 23 February 2023 with the possibility to choose a proxy.
During the GA, one of the candidates decided to withdraw his candidacy, so a new slate was prepared during the GA and provided to the members
Result of the votes (by secret ballot):
The GA elected the following Executive Committee:
President: Karl-Josef Dietz
Vice-President: Le Kang
Secretary General: Renée Borges
Treasurer: Moemen Hanafy
Executive member: Gillian Bowser
Executive member: Ravinder Kohli
Executive member: Noriaki Murakami
Executive member: Guy Smagghe
Executive member: Yafang Yin
The ad hoc Committee on Credentials
Members: Noriaki Murakami, Guy Smagghe
Report:
1) On administrative matters
Ordinary members votes: 22 members up to date with their dues
“Decisions are made with a simple majority of votes of delegates present when at least half plus one of the Members are represented”: Thus the quorum is 12
- for the elections of EC members (vote by secret ballot):
in presence plus proxy votes, the quorum is reached
- for finances: combination of in presence (with voting slip in the delegate’s envelop) and eGA vote
- for votes on administrative topic it will require an eGA as 11 delegates of ordinary members are present
2) On scientific matters
votes from ordinary and scientific members by raise of hands using the colored paper included in the delegates envelops.
The ad hoc Committee on Statutes
Members: Karl-Josef Dietz, Ester Sztein, Advisor Nathalie Fomproix, Claudia Rutte, Nils Christian Stenseth
Report
The committee discussed the necessity to adjust aspects of the statutes and by laws and identified need for action:
- The committee recommends a resolution to the GA until in the next GA the statutes or by laws may be adjusted accordingly. The suggested text is « IUBS is dedicated to implement measures to achieve diversity, equity and inclusivity in its scientific activities and governance, but also in the global community of biologists, and to support early career scientists. »
Approved for submission as a resolution with the following changes:
The committee recommends a resolution to the GA until in the next GA the statutes or by laws may be adjusted accordingly. The suggested text is « IUBS is dedicated to implement measures to achieve diversity, equity and inclusivity in its scientific activities and governance, as well as in the global community of biologists. IUBS further commits and to support early career scientists. »
- The committee recommends to the GA to install a commission on statutes and by laws with the work order to identify the aspects where the statutes need modification and should make recommendations.
Approved
- The term « past president » should be defined, and a system of « president elect » and « president » in the Executive Committee should be considered as a governance principle to secure knowledge transfer and smooth transitions.
Note: Point (3) partly aligns with the recommendation from the last GA33 in Oslo concerning the IUBS Executive Committee Membership.
Rationale: Continuity of experience and knowledge in an incoming Executive Committee can vary greatly, depending upon the turnover. This proposal seeks to ensure a degree of consistency.
Proposal: If there is significant change in the composition of an incoming Executive Committee, an experienced previous officer may be invited to join the EC in an “ex-officio” capacity.
The long term commitment in IUBS governance was discussed. The proposition was considered as a continuity of the resolution approved at the last General Assembly in Oslo. The part on establishing the system of « president elect », « president » and « past president » dropped for the time being.
The ad hoc Committee on Admission
Member: Le Kang
The statute of Associate of Mongolia had to be renewed. Mongolia has been an associate member since 2012. The letter from the Academy requested for an extension of the associate membership.
Report:
Due to the current economic situation, it was proposed to extend the associate membership of Mongolia and find ways to help to Academy to up grade to full membership.
Approved
The ad hoc Committee for the next General Assembly
Member: Hiroyuki Takeda
Report
One bid was received from India.
Renée Borges presented the offer to hold the next general assembly in Bangalore, India.
Approved
The ad hoc Committee on Finances
Members: Santiago Merino, Moemen Hanafy
Report:
After the presentation of the accounts of the triennium, the committee didn’t receive any specific request or question during the time of the GA.
It was proposed to vote on the years 2021 and 2022 during the GA together with the discharge of the treasurer from liabilities for the members attending the GA. Additional votes will be requested by eGA from the members that couldn’t attend the GA.
It was proposed and approved to keep the dues level stable for the new triennium.
The current income for the triennium is uncertain due to the fact that a provisional budget for the triennium could not be prepared. The GA agreed to let the new elected Executive Committee work on the budget for the triennium depending on the annual dues received.
No formal vote could be organized as the GA didn’t have the quorum for administrative matters, so eGA will be requested if needed.
The ad hoc Committee on Scientific Programmes
Members: Chairs: LS Shashidhara & Karl-Josef Dietz, Alexey Kotov, Gustavo MacIntosh, Jens Sundström, Alice Hugues
Report:
The evaluation on the applications received were explained and discussed during the GA:
- Open Biodiversity and Health Big Data (BHBD)
YES – as is
Approved
- BIO-CULTURE: Conservation of biocultural diversity through a global network of sacred natural sites
NO – revise to align with global biodiversity framework and perhaps resubmit for the next triennium.
Approved
- Bio Education on Water and Sanitation
NO – may be relevant to other unions such as IUSS/IUGS etc.
Approved
- Climate Resilient, Ozone and Arsenic Tolerant Cereal Crops For
Sustainable Agriculture –
NO – too narrow.
Approved
- Grand challenge: Education on Chemical Ecology in the Anthropocene – partial
YES – revise to develop online resources and do-it-yourself video courses and reduce budget as per IUBS norms.
Approved
- Pastoralism As A Global Herbivory Socio-Ecosystem –
YES – as is
Approved
- Fine Scale Population Genomics of the Blind River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica): Initiatives for Identifying Appropriate Conservation Units
NO – too narrow.
Approved
- Zoonotic Disease Coordination Network
YES – include domestic animals; employ landscape approach to monitor interactions between domestic animals and wildlife; develop metrics to define a time/zone under low/medium/high risk for zoonosis
Approved
The ad hoc Committee on Resolutions
Members: Moemen Hanafy, Renee Borges, Harufumi Nishida, Nils Christian Stenseth
Report
- Appreciation:
The General Assembly expresses sincere thanks to our hosts, the team led by Professor Harufumi Nishida and the members of the organizing committee, Chuo University and Science Council of Japan for providing a wonderful, friendly venue, enabling a most enjoyable gathering of the world’s bioscience community. The appreciation is also extended to the IYBSSD (International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development) 2022 program, as well as to the academic societies in Japan: Japanese Association for Marine Biology; Pesticide Science Society of Japan; Society of Evolutionary Studies, Japan; The Botanical Society of Japan; The Ecological Society of Japan; The Japanese Society of Applied Entomology & Zoology; The Oceanographic Society of Japan; The Palaeontological Society of Japan; The Phytopathological Society of Japan; The Union of Japanese Societies for Biological Science; The Union of Japanese Societies for Natural History and the Zoological Society of Japan.
Approved
- Resolution from the report on the ad hoc Committee on Statutes
The committee recommends a resolution to the GA until in the next GA the statutes or by laws may be adjusted accordingly. The suggested text is « IUBS is dedicated to implement measures to achieve diversity, equity and inclusivity in its scientific activities and governance, as well as in the global community of biologists. IUBS further commits to support early career scientists. »
Approved
- IUBS Executive Committee Membership.
Rationale: Continuity of experience and knowledge in an incoming Executive Committee can vary greatly, depending upon the turnover. This proposal seeks to ensure a degree of consistency.
Proposal: That when there is significant change in the composition in an incoming Executive Committee, that an experienced previous officer may be invited to join the EC in an “ex-officio” capacity.
Approved
- The Science Forum or Science – policy forum for biodiversity
Rationale: The Science Forum or Science – Policy Forum for biodiversity has been developed by IUBS since 2006, together with COP meetings of the CBD, within the framework of an MoU with the CBD Secretariat. The development of the Science Forum along with COPs is becoming part of the official programme of COPs. Therefore, the continuity of the support from IUBS to the organization of these meetings, should be ensured to guarantee the contribution of science to the convention of Biological Diversity, in particular from biological sciences but also bringing a transdisciplinary approach. It is proposed that the Science Forum for Biodiversity be a regular program of IUBS.
Proposal: GA resolves that The Science Forum for Biodiversity in collaboration with CBD would be a regular program of IUBS with financial support as decided by the EC as per the needs and financial situation of IUBS.
Approved
- TROP-ICSU (Transdisciplinary Research Oriented Pedagogy for Improving Climate Studies and Understanding)
Rationale: TROP-ICSU (Transdisciplinary Research Oriented Pedagogy for Improving Climate Studies and Understanding) is a global climate change education project of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) that integrates climate change into the high school and undergraduate curriculum across the world. This project has created a free to use platform that contains over 800 educational resources for all teachers. The project was originally implemented by the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India and subsequently shifted to the Centre for Sustainability, Environment, and Climate Change at FLAME University, Pune, India. Given the level of investment already made and the importance of climate change education for achieving sustainable development goals, it is proposed to make TROP-ICSU a regular program of IUBS.
Proposal: GA resolves that the climate change education program TROP-ICSU be a regular program of IUBS with financial support as decided by the EC as per the needs and financial situation of IUBS.
Approved
- IUBS Ordinary (national) Members
Rationale: The international/global dimension has, from the very beginning more than 100 years ago, been essential. There is a concern about the low number of ordinary members compared to the potential number. The more countries that are members of IUBS, the stronger will IUBS be nationally as well as internationally.
Proposal: The new Executive Committee should make all possible efforts in bringing back members who have left IUBS and to bring on board new ordinary members.
It was discussed that this goal is implicitly expected in the activities of the new Executive Committee and that unless clear actions are described it doesn’t require a resolution.
