How to join IUGG
Every country in which „independent activity in geodesy and geophysics has been developed“ is eligible for IUGG membership. We believe that IUGG membership contributes to the scientific well-being of our member countries, and may lead to economic benefits through enhanced exchange of scientific and technical expertise. The IUGG Statutes and By-Laws are available on our website. According to our Statutes, the following information is required and constitutes an application for membership. If you have specific questions, please contact the IUGG Secretariat.
1. What body (known as the Adhering Organization) shall represent your country to IUGG?
Please identify the contact details of the Adhering Organization. This is usually the principal scientific academy or council for national research. However, it can be any other institution or association of institutions, whether non-governmental or governmental, that represents your geodetic and geophysical activities. A country is represented by a single body except under extraordinary circumstances. The Adhering Bodies of IUGG member countries can be found in the IUGG Yearbook.
2. The Adhering Organization must establish a National Committee for IUGG and identify at least one officer.
Most National Committees identify a President and Secretary of the Committee as well as National Correspondents of the Associations. Some Committees identify additional officers (e.g., Vice-President, Executive Secretary). Please provide the contact details of all the officers. The term of these officers is typically the same as the IUGG Quadrennium (e.g., 2024-2027).
3. IUGG consists of the following 8 Associations, each representing a discipline of geodesy or geophysics:
- International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS)
- International Association of Geodesy (IAG)
- International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA)
- International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS)
- International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (IAMAS)
- International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans (IAPSO)
- International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior (IASPEI)
- International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI)
Each Association should be represented by a National Correspondent.
4. Please indicate whether you wish to apply to be a Regular Member or an Associate Member.
Regular (paying) Member: Regular Members may send a delegate to quadrennial meetings of the IUGG Council, and vote on matters of business. Scientists from member countries may hold office in the Associations and vote in their business meetings. A Regular Member pays dues annually according to a scale („the category“) established by the IUGG Finance Committee (shown below) and as explained further in Statute III and By-Law III. Your application should specify which category of membership you wish to take. Countries are expected to subscribe to a category that is consistent with their overall economy and participation at General Assemblies.
As a guide to help choose the category, the IUGG Yearbook lists IUGG member countries and their category of membership on pages 11-12. A Regular Member country that misses an annual payment temporarily falls into a special class of membership known as „observers.“ Every year, the Treasurer uses an algorithm to determine the price of a unit of membership (see Guidelines on IUGG Administration, Section III.C), and also reviews the category of membership of regular members at least every quadrennium. As of the Year 2024, a single unit of membership is valued at USD 2,460.
Associate (non-paying) Member: Associate Members have no voting rights, and persons from Associate countries may not hold office in IUGG or in any of the Associations. On the other hand, scientists are welcome to attend all scientific and social activities at all IUGG and Association meetings. The scientific data and research done within Associate Member countries is valued and the opportunities for networking and collaboration with other IUGG Members are enhanced. Associate Members receive all of the ordinary correspondence of IUGG, such as notices of forthcoming meetings and information about applications for travel support. Associate Membership is welcomed as a first step toward regular membership if a country’s economic condition currently does not permit the payment of annual dues.
5. Application Procedure
When the information requested above is ready, please submit your application as a letter to the IUGG Secretary General. Membership application forms can be requested from the IUGG Secretariat.
The Application will be processed in the following steps (By-Law 14):
– It will be sent to the members of the IUGG Executive Committee who will determine the scientific merits of the application.
– The application and the recommendation of the Executive Committee will be sent to the Adhering Organizations of the IUGG Regular Members via their National Committees, who will vote to accept the application. The Council should then ratify the voting results.
“Questions on admission of new Member Countries and new Affiliate Members and appeals against denial of transfer to Associate Membership shall be decided by a two-thirds absolute majority vote of the Council Delegates meeting in Council or voting electronically, each Council Delegate having one vote” (Statute 18).