Working Group on Optical/IR Interferometry

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IAU Membership

Applications for IAU membership by individual astronomers should be addressed to the appropriate National Committee.

United States of America (AAS): Application/nomination form for IAU membership is available in the August 2005 AAS Newsletter and also in PDF format through the AAS IAU Member Information webpage. Individuals can follow the instructions therein. The submissions are to be made to John Graham, Secretary of the USNC-IAU, by September 30, 2005. The USNC-IAU membership committee meets late in 2005, and the USNC-IAU itself reviews all nominations at its meeting early in 2006. An individual can expect to hear roughly by the end of January 2006 whether they have been recommended to the IAU for membership, or for an invitation only to attend, the General Assembly in Prague. Astronomers who have completed their PhD no later than 14 August 2003, have been principle author of at least three substantive scientific or technical papers in the refereed journals, and exhibit a "desire to assist in the aims of the Union" are encouraged to apply.
France (CNFA, SF2A):
United Kingdom (RAS):
Germany: The `Council of German Observatories', Rat Deutscher Sternwarten (RDS), is the IAU adhering organisation in Germany and thus entitled to suggest IAU membership of astronomers working in Germany. The procedure is as follows: Normally new individual members are only admitted in the course of a General Assembly. The next GA will be held in August 2006. Some 8-10 months before that date (i.e. end of 2005) the new application forms will be distributed among the adhering organisations. The RDS will then inform the German astronomical community, collect and sign the applications, and send the forms to the IAU in due time. The German requirements for an individual to become a member are: PhD (Dr.) and at least three years of successful work in professional astronomy after having received the PhD (proved by publications in refereed journals). Memberships in Astronomische Gesellschaft or any other organisation are not required. There are no individual dues, the annual contribution to the IAU will be paid by the German government. (Courtesy of Reinhold Haefner).
The Netherlands: In the Netherlands new members to the IAU are proposed by the NCA (Netherlands Committee for astronomy; Chairman Habing, Secretary Jan Lub) prior to the IAU general assembly. There is no fee for IAU membership. The procedure for applying is as follows: 1) The IAU sends out proposal forms, 9 months or so before IAU. 2) Prospective candidates can only be proposed by the directors of the four University Astronomical Institutes (Amsterdam, Groningen, Leiden, Utrecht) or of the two research foundations for (Radio-) Astronomy (Dwingeloo/Westerbork) and Space research (Utrecht?Groningen) or finally by the Chairman. 3) Prerequisites are : a. A PhD in Astronomy b. A few years of postdoctoral experience as well as the expectation that there will be a longer career in astronomy (e.g. tenure track or - and this is a bit subjective - great expectations) c. To be actively working in the field of astronomy in the Netherlands, so this includes e.g. American postdocs and personnel from ESA/ESTEC. We do not in principle propose Dutch postdocs in the US, these should approach the US Committee. d. In exceptional cases: special merit may be considered (Courtesy of Jan Lub.)

Some Notes on International Collaborations

These notes are very preliminary and are aimed initially at understanding regulations governing US and European exchanges:
Association of American Universities Web Page
NASA Export Control Program

The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) - 15 C.F.R. 730-774
The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) - 22 C.F.R. 120-130
No exchange of funds
Buy America Act
22 CFR 126.4 15 CFR 730-774
22 CFR 126.X in PDF format, from Cornell University
NASA Export Processing Template

Sources of Funding in Support of the Working Group

Sources of future funding for WG Meetings may include

National Science Foundation (USA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (USA)
European Southern Observatory [September of previous year]
European Space Agency [November of previous year]
International Astronomical Union [March 15 of previous year]
Travel grants through national astronomical societies

Other possible sources may include CNRS/INSU (France), CNES (France), European Commission, NATO [ARW], ONERA (France), PPARC (UK), ARC (Australia). Requests for funding must typically be made by September for funding in the following year.

Working Rules: IX

38. The Executive Committee and the Divisions and Commissions may set up Working Groups for special tasks. Working Groups established by Divisions and Commissions have to be approved by the Executive Committee. All Working Groups are established initially for a period of three years. Before each General Assembly the Divisions and Commissions shall inform the Executive Committee which Working Groups are to be retained for the next 3-year period and which Working Groups are to be dissolved.

International Astronomical Union (IAU)

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) was founded in 1919. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. Its individual members are professional astronomers all over the World, at the Ph.D. level or beyond and active in professional research and education in astronomy. However, the IAU maintains friendly relations also with organizations that include amateur astronomers in their membership. Adhering Countries are generally those with a significant level of professional astronomy. With now over 8,300 individual members and 66 Adhering Countries, the IAU plays a pivotal role in promoting and coordinating worldwide cooperation in astronomy. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and any surface features on them.

The scientific and educational activities of the IAU are organised by its 11 Scientific Divisions and, through them, its 40 more specialised Commissions covering the full spectrum of astronomy. The long-term policy of the IAU is defined by the General Assembly and implemented by the Executive Committee, while day-to-day operations are directed by the IAU Officers. The focal point of its activities is the permanent IAU Secretariat, located at Institut d'Astrophysique in Paris, France.

The International Astronomical Union is a non-governmental organization, whose objects are:

to develop astronomy through international co-operation,
to promote the study and development of astronomy in all aspects,
to further and safeguard the interests of astronomy.

The Commissions of the Union shall pursue the scientific objects of the Union by activities such as the study of special branches of astronomy, the encouragement of collective investigations, and the discussion of questions relating to international agreements or to standardization.

The Commissions of the Union shall prepare reports on the work with which they are concerned.

Travel Grants

Within the limitations imposed by the budget of Commission 46 (Astronomy Education and Development) as approved by the Executive Committee of the International Astronomical Union, funds are available to Commission 46 toward grants to qualified individuals to enable them to visit institutions abroad. It is intended, in particular, that the visitors should have ample time and opportunity to interact with the intellectual life of the host institution so that maximum benefit is derived by both sides. It is a specific objective of the programme that astronomy in the home country be enriched after the applicant returns.

More details of the application process are available at http://physics.open.ac.uk/IAU46/travel.html.

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