The current relationship to ICSU is characterized by quite a high activity. More than 60 requests/notices from ICSU have been received in the last triennium and more than half of them have been answered by URSI. The rest were mostly not relevant for URSI. Among the more important ones to which URSI reacted were:
URSI members for ICSU-related positions
Three URSI members have been nominated for ICSU-related positions. From these Dr. R.W. Stone, URSI Assistant Secretary has been elected as member for an ICSU Panel for Priority Area Assessment on Capacity Building in Science.
ICSU Initiative for an International Polar Year (2007/08)
Under the leadership of Comm. G Chair Prof. Christian Hanuise a proposal for participation was submitted. Commissions E, F, and H are also involved.
Request for Inputs for an ICSU Document on Emerging Issues in Science
After a long and extensive discussion among the Board, the Commissions, the Scientific Committee on Telecommunication, and the Long Range Planning Committee a contribution to this document was formulated. URSI named three areas as emerging issues: (i)
Space Solar Power Systems – Transport of solar energy from space to ground by electromagnetic waves, (ii) Effects on the human activities of variations in the space environment – Managing the electromagnetic environment, (iii) Nanotechnology (full text, see Appendix A4). After ICSU had issued a preliminary report of all received answers from the Unions and Members, URSI suggests a few additions and modifications to this report (full text, see Appendix A3).Discussion about the future of FAGS
After I
CSU announced that it will not continue to fund the Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical Data Analysis Services (FAGS) a long discussion started among the ICSU Unions related to FAGS: The International Astronomical Union (IAU), the International Union on Geophysics and Geology (IUGG), URSI, and the Council of FAGS. It resulted in a common letter of these Unions to ICSU, stating the importance of FAGS for their work and urging ICSU to postpone their draft decision on the disposition of FAGS while negotiations are in progress regarding an umbrella organization that could replace ICSU. ICSU nevertheless went ahead with its plan and formulated a corresponding recommendation to be adopted at the next ICSU General Assembly in Oct. 2005. The URSI Board decided in May 2005 to continue its funding of FAGS at the present level. The full text of the above letter can be found in the Appendix, A2.ICSU Strategic Plan for 2006-20012
This 44-page document was extensively discussed within the Board. Eventually a letter was sent to ICSU (with a copy
to IUGG), stressing that the Strategic Plan should focus on enhancing the role of the Unions within ICSU. "The current arrangement for representation has reduced the voice of the scientific Unions to the point where many (URSI is an example) feel almost irrelevant." URSI also opposed to the envisaged plan to cluster the Unions within ICSU (see next item). The full text of the letter is documented in the Appendix, A1.Clustering of Unions
This is a pending issue which was addressed under the just mentioned Strategic Plan and issued by ICSU in a formal proposal for the next ICSU General Assembly. The relevant text in this proposal states:
"It had been the tradition within ICSU that Unions were grouped into four clusters that, from time to time, met in the context of General Assemblies and General Committee meetings. When the General Committee was abolished in 1998, such meetings ceased, except as initiatives of individual Unions. These clusters were the Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Sciences; the Biological Sciences; the Earth and Space Sciences; and the Social Sciences. This alternative would consist of formalizing this practice by introducing the notion of four discipline clusters as a distinct layer in ICSU’s membership structure."
This alternative would:
The
Ad hoc Committee believes however, that most, if not all, management concerns presented by this alternative can be addressed by changes to ICSU's Statutes and Rules of Procedure and by a clarification of the guidelines to be used for the consideration of membership applications."URSI has strong reservations regarding these plans, its answer to ICSU (Appendix A1) stresses:
"On the one hand such a clustering might result in a weakening of the role of the Unions within ICSU, since it will increase the distance between the Unions and the ICSU Board. On the other hand it would not enhance the interdisciplinarity as advocated on many places in the document. The proposed boxes might also place certain Unions in an ambiguous situation, e.g. URSI would fall in 3 of the 4 proposed boxes: Physics and Chemistry (URSI Commissions A, B, C, D, H and J), Earth and Space Sciences (URSI Commissions E, F, G, H and J) and Biological Sciences (URSI Commission K)."
Despite of these arguments it seems that ICSU will go ahead with this plan and wants to have it approved at their GA in October 2005. We have to wait for the outcome and subsequently discuss necessary actions.
Kristian Schlegel
URSI President
APPENDIX: Full text of URSI’s answers to ICSU:
A1: Letter to ICSU of 14.03.05 regarding the draft of the ICSU Strategic Plan 2006-2012
Ghent, 14 March 2005
Dear Dr. Rosswell,
After reviewing the "Draft Strategic Plan for the International Council for Science 2006-2012" the URSI Board of Officers is concerned that ICSU considers the clustering of Unions as mentioned in paragraph 8.1.2 in this document. On the one hand such a clustering might result in a weakening of the role of the Unions within ICSU, since it will increase the distance between the Unions and the ICSU Board. On the other hand it would not enhance the interdisciplinarity as advocated on many places in the document. The proposed boxes might also place certain Unions in an ambiguous situation, e.g. URSI would fall in 3 of the 4 proposed boxes: Physics and Chemistry (URSI Commissions A, B, C, D, H and J), Earth and
Space Sciences (URSI Commissions E, F, G, H and J) and Biological Sciences
(URSI Commission K).
The Strategic Plan should focus on enhancing the role of the Unions within ICSU. The current arrangement for representation has reduced the voice of the scientific Unions to the point where many (URSI is an example) feel almost irrelevant. The opinion of URSI is that this issue should be addressed (perhaps in Section 8.1.2).
Science can contribute in a very significant manner to the solution of global problems of society and humanity. For this to happen it is of utmost importance to have good interaction between scientists and policy makers. Policy is still to a large extent a national issue and science is by definition a global matter. ICSU's matrix structure is the ideal place for an interaction between these two dimensions. It is important that both dimensions have equal impact within ICSU. An equilibrium between the National Members and the Unions is of importance to warrant an efficient interaction and to create maximal synergy between the global action of science and the national policy organs.
It is our sincere hope that the Unions in general and URSI in particular can continue to play a valuable role within ICSU by contributing to its science policy. The strategic plan should therefore contain measures aimed at strengthening the role of the Unions.
Sincere regards,
K. Schlegel
President of URSI
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A2: Letter to ICSU of 02.06.04 regarding the future of FAGS, common view of IAU, IUGG and URSI
Dear Dr. Rosswall,
Your letter to IAU, URSI, and IUGG dated 6 January 2004 requested a response to the CSPR recommendation that we three Unions "join efforts and take responsibility for the Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical Data Analysis Services (FAGS)." FAGS would then cease to be an ICSU Interdisciplinary Body if the CSPR recommendation is accepted by the ICSU Executive Committee and subsequently confirmed at the 2005 ICSU General Assembly.
The following actions have taken place in response to your letter.
1. Representatives of the 3 Unions met in Paris on the occasion of the 2004 Unions meeting on Feb. 9-10. Attendees were O. Engvold (IAU), K. Schlegel and P. Lagasse (URSI), J.A. Joselyn (IUGG), and C. Smith and L. Goldfarb (ICSU).
2. A questionnaire was jointly designed and sent by each of the Union Secretaries General to their respective liaisons to FAGS. The questionnaire was also sent to Dr. Pugh, President of FAGS.
3. The FAGS Council meeting was held in Southampton, UK, on April 19, where the CSPR recommendation was discussed. Your attendance at this meeting was greatly appreciated. A report of the meeting has been received and analyzed. The conclusions have been circulated among the Unions and the FAGS officers, and have contributed to the paragraphs below.
4. The officers of the three Unions have consulted each other and we present this letter as an expression of our common point of view.
IAU, IUGG, and URSI ask the CSPR to consider the following findings. The attached document provided by Ruth Neilan, Director of the Central Bureau of the IAG International GPS (Global Positioning System) Service, is also included for your information.
1. Issues regarding observations and information are critical and timely, as evidenced by the recent and ongoing ICSU activities directed toward the World Summit on the Information Society and the Earth Observation Summit (Global Earth Observation System of Systems). In
addition, efforts addressing capacity building must include improved access in developing countries to data and information networks, as well as the ability to contribute data and information.
2. Data and Information Services (including observation time series and analyzed data products such as images, charts, maps, etc.) are a valuable component of scientific endeavors, not only because they are needed for the advancement of science itself but also because they
directly serve society in a much broader context. Geophysical permanent services define international data standards, exchange formats, models, and conventions for data, products, and meta-data, and are committed to providing this support to science for the foreseeable future. We assume that the PAA on Data and Information is including services (and
specifically FAGS) within their Terms of Reference.
3. Because of their common objectives, coordination and co-operation among the various geophysical Service organizations is beneficial and should be encouraged.
4. While each of the Unions acknowledges that data and information are critical to our work, issues regarding data and information must compete for visibility against other disciplinary issues within our Union structures. Thus it does not seem the Unions themselves can efficiently or beneficially govern FAGS even though each Union provides some financial support for its work. Further, it is not acceptable to the other Unions that IUGG take sole responsibility for FAGS.
5. The individual Services report that it is important, to the point of survival, that their contributions be acknowledged and supported by a prestigious international organization, such as ICSU. Work is in progress to find an alternate organization that could assume this
responsibility if it is ultimately decided that ICSU cannot continue in this capacity.
6. Data and information services have a critical role within today's society, and FAGS expects to re-examine its mission and to evolve as necessary to fill that strategic role.
Therefore, it is the recommendation of IAU, IUGG, and URSI that CSPR postpone their draft decision on the disposition of FAGS while negotiations are in progress regarding an umbrella organization that could replace ICSU, and while the role of Services is being re-examined
within the general context of scientific data acquisition, distribution, analysis, product generation, and archival. Further we believe that ICSU should carefully consider the advantages of retaining Permanent Services as a unique component of its "Information Society" portfolio, and should reconsider their draft recommendation regarding its future.
Yours sincerely,
Jo Ann Joselyn O. Engvold K. Schlegel
IUGG Secretary General IAU Secretary General URSI President
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A3. Answer to ICSU of 31.10.03 regarding comments on the prelimininary report on Emerging Issues
URSI comments on the document Emerging Issues – Initial Analysis of Responses Received
URSI kindly thanks the CSPR to take into account some of the responses by URSI in the document "Emerging Issues – Initial Analysis of Responses Received". After examining this document URSI suggests a few additions and modifications as listed below.
Most of the suggestions are based on the concern that in our modern society we are increasingly dependent on wireless telecommunications and navigational services such as GPS, that can suffer interruption or outages due to incidents in the ionosphere, magnetosphere and atmosphere. Also, there is great concern about the impact of both the natural and man-made electromagnetic environment not only on these systems but on health in general.
I. New issues
Health
URSI suggests to add the following bullet under the emerging challenges:
* The effects of naturally occurring and man-made electromagnetic interference on medical equipment and on humans (e.g., electromagnetic radiation from cellular telephony and wireless network systems).
URSI suggests to add the following bullet under "potential actions" :
* Strengthening the understanding of, and developing engineering solutions for measuring, monitoring, and controlling the effects of electromagnetic emissions and interference on medical equipment and on humans.
Natural and Man-made Hazards
URSI suggests to add the following two bullets to the list of issues of greatest interest:
* Improving our ability to predict, and to reduce vulnerability to, atmospheric, ionospheric, and magnetospheric influences on space- and ground-based services (e.g., telecommunications; remote sensing; weather; navigation, including GPS systems; telemedicine; medical surveillance systems; and defence surveillance systems).
* Strengthening the understanding of and developing engineering solutions for controlling the effects and hazards of man-made and natural electromagnetic interference and emissions on critical systems (e.g., for medical and emergency communications equipment), scientific observations (e.g., with radio astronomy), and mankind itself (e.g., radiation from cellular telephony and wireless network systems).
Pollution
URSI suggests to add the following bullet under specific research priorities:
* Development of new methods for monitoring and mitigating the electromagnetic pollution of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is so critical to the growth and well-being of modern, technology-based society.
II Issues being addressed through current scoping or
programmatic activities:
Energy
Because the term "solar PV", as mentioned under the renewable methods of energy generation, might be unclear URSI suggests to add :
"Particularly important may be the generation of power by space based solar cells and its transfer to Earth by microwave radiation"
Global Change Science and Monitoring
URSI suggests augmenting the wording of the last sentence of the first paragraph. It currently reads:
"Topics such as the climate system, interactions among the atmosphere/biosphere/ geosphere, and the impacts of land-use changes continue to be seen as 'emerging issues' that require focused attention in the coming years."
URSI suggests changing it to read:
"Topics such as the climate system, interactions among the atmosphere/biosphere/ geosphere/ionosphere/magnetosphere, the impacts of electromagnetic interference and pollution on the environment and on environmental monitoring, and the impacts of land-use changes continue to be seen as 'emerging issues' that require focused attention in the coming years."
A4: Answer to ICSU of 28.04.03, regarding Discussions on Emerging Issues
Space Solar Power Systems (SSPS) offer the promise of clean, renewable, and therefore sustainable energy production in the replacement of nuclear and fossil energy sources worldwide. In these systems solar radiated energy is collected by large space based solar cells and subsequently converted to microwave energy that is then transmitted to Earth. Although the feasibility of such systems has been proven, a broad range of technological questions remain to be answered before such systems can be installed for energy production. Among these questions URSI can take a leading role in the following radiophysical aspects of SSPS given its expertise and the experience of the scientists actively working within the URSI Commissions:
a. All questions concerning efficient microwave transmission (Comm. B, C, D)
b. Antenna design for this purpose (Comm. B)
c. Signal processing for the transmission system (Comm. C)
c. Interference with other radio systems (Comm. E, J)
d. Atmospheric and ionospheric effects of the microwave beam (Comm. F, G, H)
e. Bioeffects and health assessments of the microwave radiation (Comm. K)
The world - both developed and developing countries - is facing an ever worsening energy crisis, which will have major worldwide social and economic impacts over the next two decades. Space solar power systems hold the potential for having a major positive effect in mitigating this crisis. The benefits could be particularly great for countries that do not have significant natural energy resources. SSPS is an international, multidisciplinary and global issue. Therefore ICSU can be important in many ways:
- to strengthen international science for the benefit of society according to ICSU’s mission
- to help promote public understanding of SSPS-related issues
1.2 What would be the consequences of ICSU not acting?
At this point in time, relatively few countries have pursued space solar power systems, in part because of concerns about the potential cost and feasibility of the technology. However, experimental and theoretical work to date have demonstrated that such systems are feasible, and will most probably be economically viable sooner rather than later. Many countries are not engaging in this research (or are not funding the research at sufficiently significant levels) because the economics of the crisis have yet to force their attention to the problem. Without ICSU involvement, this trend is likely to continue until the crisis gets much worse. If ICSU becomes involved, there is the potential for achieving global cooperation on science that could yield significant benefits to both developed and developing countries without the suffering attendant with delay.
1.3 What kind of collaboration or co-ordination is required at the international level in order to ensure ….
ICSU can help to establish the science, technology and social feasibility roadmap, and
to develop the knowledge basis and enabling technologies, as well as the
international socio-political and economic co-operation schemes, for the intensive use of solar energy for electricity and hydrogen production, combining Earth and Space platforms as a global, clean, renewable, therefore sustainable, energy production scenario, and a viable alternative to nuclear energy production scenarios for the
world-wide total substitution of fossil energy resources before the end of 21st century. In particular:
- ICSU can organise interdisciplinary workshops and conferences related to SSPS
- ICSU may facilitate the definition and development of standards in SSPS
- ICSU may put SSPS on the agenda of the appropriate international bodies
1.4 In the light of its mission what is the unique role that ICSU can play ….
ICSU has a unique role through the complementary efforts of Unions and national members
ICSU is politically independent
ICSU can promote scientific and institutional capacity building
2. Effects on the human activities of variations in the space environment – Managing the electromagnetic environment
Space- and ground-based services, such as telecommunications, remote sensing, weather, navigation (e.g. GPS system), telemedicine, medical surveillance systems, and defence surveillance systems are economically as well as socially important to the global society. These systems are vulnerable to solar, ionospheric and magnetospheric factors ("solar terrestrial relations" - STR). Our current abilities to predict space weather, and to mitigate damage to space-based systems due to space-weather effects, are in the early stages of development, at best. Two factors inhibit progress in this field: the inherently global nature of some of the aspects (and the related need for global-based observations and experiments), and the difficulty in convincing major funding sources of the importance and potential benefits of the work. URSI’s experience in the following radio physical topics can be used to improve the prediction and mitigation of STR issues:
e. Interference (e.g. with medical equipment) and noise problems (e.g. to radio astronomy) (Comm. E, J)
f. Influence of natural electromagnetic emissions on biological systems (Comm. K)
2.1 What are the compelling reasons for ICSU to take action?
ICSU can play a unique role in several aspects. The unions within ICSU directly involved or affected by this area - URSI, IUGG, IUGS, IUPAP, ISPRS, IAU, and IGU - can use the international scientific lobbying power of ICSU to bring these problems to the forefront of national policy makers. Furthermore, ICSU could play a prime role in fostering international and cross-Union co-operation to further the needed scientific work.
2.2 What would be the consequences of ICSU not acting?
This is an area where significant funding and emphasis seems to come mainly in response to minor or major disasters. It can be predicted that with some lag time the levels of funding of STR research will decrease with the decrease in solar activity in the next years. Similarly, the recent failure of several major communications satellites due to space-weather effects probably had more of a benefit for funding such work than any of the scientific results! Is it necessary to wait until a major disaster in telecommunications or GPS for countries and major commercial entities proves again the importance of such research? If ICSU can become effectively involved, then it may be possible to answer this question: "No". If ICSU or a similar organisation with a global "view" does not become involved, it is possible - perhaps even likely - that future development will be focused on benefits for a single country and/or application, rather than taking into account the huge potential benefits for society as a whole.
2.3 What kind of collaboration or co-ordination is required at the international level in order to ensure ….
ICSU can organise interdisciplinary workshops and conferences related to STR
ICSU may put STR on the agenda of the appropriate international bodies
2.4 In the light of its mission what is the unique role that ICSU can play ….
ICSU has a unique role through the complementary efforts of Unions and national members
ICSU is politically independent
ICSU can promote scientific and institutional capacity building
Nanotechnology will have an enormous impact on society, the economy and on the various sciences as well. It offers the promise of engineering not only minuscule circuits, but biological molecules for medical purposes, and the possibility of micromachining and nano-surgery. URSI may actively contribute to this field through its Commissions B, C, D, and K.
3.1 What are the compelling reasons for ICSU to take action?
Nano-technology is both cross-disciplinary and international in scope. It is therefore ideally suited as a topic for ICSU. In particular, it potentially combines the "hard science" of such Unions as URSI, IUBMB, IUTAM, IUPESM, IUPAP, and IUPAB with the medical and biological science unions (IBRO, IUBS, IUIS, and IUMS)
3.2 What would be the consequences of ICSU not acting?
The economic importance of nano-technology is so great that it will be pursued whether or not ICSU becomes involved. However, if ICSU is not involved, it is likely that many of the potential cross-disciplinary benefits may be lost. Furthermore, ICSU involvement should enable countries to be involved that would otherwise perhaps not have the economic resources to become involved, and to thereby benefit much sooner from developments in the field.
3.3 What kind of collaboration or co-ordination is required at the international level in order to ensure ….
Combine the efforts and research of the various Unions represented by ICSU, see 3.1
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