IUTAM’s Statutes

I.

 “The International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics” hereinafter called “the Union” is an international non-governmental scientific organization.

II.

 The principal objectives of the Union are
a) to form a link between persons and organizations engaged in scientific work in all branches of theoretical and applied mechanics and related sciences, including analytical, computational and experimental investigations;
b) to organize international congresses of theoretical and applied mechanics through a standing Congress Committee (Article XII), and to organize other international meetings for subjects falling within the field of theoretical and applied mechanics;
c) to engage in other activities meant to promote development of mechanics, both theoretical and applied, as a branch of science.
Article II adopted by the General Assembly on August 18, 2004, in Warsaw, Poland

III.

 The highest authority of the Union is its General Assembly.The General Assembly has the power to decide all questions affecting the Union, including alterations of the Statutes. On specified questions it may delegate its power to appropriate bodies.The composition of the General Assembly is regulated in Article VI.Meeting of the General Assembly will take place at times decided by the Bureau (Article XII) or on the request of at least 10 members of the General Assembly. A meeting of the General Assembly may be held with physical attendance of members (in-person meeting) or may be held by electronic means (virtual meeting).

Article III adopted by the General Assembly on May 27, 2020 by electronic means

IV.

 In all its decisions the General Assembly shall be guided by the tradition of free international scientific cooperation, developed in the International Congresses for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.In pursuing its objectives the Union shall observe the basic policy of non-discrimination and affirm the rights of scientists throughout the world to adhere to or to associate with international scientific activity without regard to race, religion, political philosophy, ethnic origin, citizenship, language or sex.

V.

 In voting every member of the General Assembly shall dispose of one vote. For an alteration of the Statutes the majority required is 2/3 of the votes brought forward. For all other decisions a simple majority of the votes brought forward is required. Any member who is unable to attend an in-person meeting may by a letter or notification via electronic mail to the Secretary General constitute another member of the General Assembly as proxy.

Between meetings of the General Assembly voting may be carried out by correspondence or by electronic means upon proposals made by the Bureau (Article XII); in this case decisions will be valid only provided the number of persons taking part in the vote is not less than 2/3 of the total membership of the General Assembly.

Article V adopted by the General Assembly on July 24, 2018, in Boston, USA and amended on May 27, 2020 by electronic means

VI.

 The General Assembly is composed of
a) representatives of the adhering organizations (Article VIII);
b) members of the Bureau (Article XII);
c) members-at-large;
d) the Secretary of the Congress Committee (Article XIII c);
e) the Chairs of the Fluids and Solids Symposia panels appointed by the Bureau.
The term of a member-at-large shall be determined by the General Assembly at the time of the election. The term of members of the Bureau shall coincide with their term of service on the Bureau.

The following categories of observers are invited to take part in the General Assembly without voting rights:
i) representatives of affiliated organizations (Article XI);
ii) chairmen of the Working Parties;
iii) representatives of Adhering Associated Organisations (Article IX);
iv) representatives of countries applying for membership;
v) representatives of committees and groups of scientists, if so decided by the General Assembly.
Article VI adopted by the General Assembly on August 19, 2014, in Lyngby (Denmark)

VII.

 The General Assembly shall provide for an adequate representation of any group of scientists carrying out research in theoretical or applied mechanics and not represented by an adhering organization.

VIII.

 Organizations of scientists in theoretical or applied mechanics (or unions of such organizations) which effectively represent independent scientific activity in a country or in a definite territory can be admitted by the General Assembly as adhering organizations of the Union provided they can be listed under a name that will avoid any misunderstanding about the country or territory represented.

In general only one organization from each country or territory will be admitted.

IX.

 Organisations of scientists in theoretical or applied mechanics which represent independent scientific activity in a country or territory of the developing world and which are not already represented by an adhering organisation of the Union may, with the written support of one adhering organisation, be admitted as an adhering associate organisation of the Union. The name of the proposed adhering organisation must be unambiguous and politically neutral in order to avoid misunderstanding about the country or territory being represented.
Article IX adopted by the General Assembly on August 27, 2008, in Adelaide (Australia)

X.

 Each adhering organization shall have representatives in the General Assembly of the Union, and pay an annual subscription to the Union in accordance with Article XIV. Each adhering associate organisation shall have one representative as a nonvoting observer in the General Assembly of the Union, and shall pay a single subscription once for each four-year period in accordance with Article XVI.
Article X adopted by the General Assembly on August 27, 2008, in Adelaide (Australia)

XI.

 International organizations mainly occupied in fields closely related to that of the Union can be admitted by the General Assembly as affiliated organizations of the Union.

Each affiliated organization has the right to appoint an observer, who is invited to take part in the General Assembly without voting rights. The Bureau of the Union (Article X) has the reciprocal right to appoint a nonvoting observer to the corresponding council or other executive body of the affiliated organization.

The affiliated organization and the Union are mutually obliged to keep each other informed about all important activities of and organizational measures taken.

In organizing international scientific meetings the Union and each of the affiliated organizations are obliged to consider carefully all measures already taken by the Union and its affiliated organizations in order to coordinate such international scientific activities.

Affiliated organizations pay no annual dues to the Union.

XII.

 To execute the decisions of the General Assembly and to carry out work between meetings, the General Assembly elects members of a Bureau for a period of at most four years. The Bureau consists of the officers (President, the retiring President who serves as Vice-President, Secretary-General, and Treasurer) and four other persons. The candidates for all seven positions must have been full, voting members of the General Assembly at some time within the six years preceding the time of election to the Bureau. The maximum continuous period of service as a member of the Bureau, other than an officer, is limited to eight years. Newly elected members of the Bureau enter into office on the date of November 1, following the General Assembly at which they were elected.

The Bureau will meet at least every year. A member of the Bureau who is prevented from attending a meeting may by letter to the Secretary-General designate another member of the General Assembly as a replacement.

The Secretary-General will act as a permanent center for all matters affecting the Union, including relations with adhering, affiliated and other organizations.

The legal domicile of the Union shall be the place where the Secretary-General lives.

The Bureau is authorized to appoint Assistant-Treasurers in those countries where the Union has a bank account.

The Assistant-Treasurers must be members of the General Assembly but need not to be members of the Bureau.

The Bureau shall draft a budget for each coming year, and shall administer the finances. The Bureau shall submit an annual financial report to the General Assembly.

The Vice-President shall normally fulfill the duties of the President should the President become unable to discharge them.

Between meetings of the General Assembly the Bureau shall decide who shall undertake the duties of the Vice President, Secretary-General, or Treasurer should a temporary replacement be necessary.
Article XII adopted by the General Assembly on August 19, 2014, in Lyngby (Denmark)

XIII.

 The General Assembly establishes a standing Congress Committee (henceforth abbreviated CC) which is responsible for the organization of International Congresses of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics at regular intervals.
a) The President of the Union shall also serve as President of the CC.
b) The CC shall nominate a Secretary from its membership subject to that person’s willingness to be nominated. Based on the CC nomination, the General Assembly elects the Secretary of the CC for a four-year term with the possibility of renewal for a second term. It is desirable that the Secretary should have been a member of the CC for at least four years prior to nomination.
c) Members of the CC are elected by the General Assembly as individuals active in theoretical and applied mechanics and need not be members of the General Assembly. Prior to a General Assembly, the Secretary of the CC shall invite nominations from members of the CC, the General Assembly, Adhering and Affiliated Organizations, and any appropriate subcommittees, such as the Symposia Panels and Working Parties. The size of the CC shall not exceed one-third the size of the General Assembly. Terms of service as a member of the CC shall generally be limited to two, successive four-year terms.

It is desired that the composition of the CC be representative of the various mechanics disciplines, and of the diversity of the mechanics community.
d) The CC shall nominate an Executive Committee from its membership. The President of IUTAM and the Secretary of the CC automatically serve as Chair and Secretary of the Executive Committee, respectively. Four additional members shall be nominated. The President of the upcoming International Congress may also be appointed to the Executive Committee ex officio. Experience with large congresses is a desirable quality of nominees for the Executive Committee. Based on the CC nominations, the General Assembly elects the Executive Committee of the CC. Terms of service of the additional members on the Executive Committee of the CC are generally limited to two four-year terms.
e) The rules of procedure of the CC shall be approved by the General Assembly.
Article XIII adopted by the General Assembly on August 19, 2014, in Lyngby (Denmark)

XIV.

 The financial means of the Union are formed by:
a) the annual subscriptions of the adhering organizations;
b) the subscriptions of the adhering associate organisations;
c) gifts and grants.
The Union shall maintain a roll of benefactors on which shall be inscribed annually the names of those persons or institutions which have accorded gifts, legacies or other subventions to the Union.
Article XIV adopted by the General Assembly on August 27, 2008, in Adelaide (Australia)

XV.

 The number of representatives of an adhering organization and the amount of the annual subscription to be paid by that organization will be regulated according to one of the following categories, as proposed by the adhering organization and after approval of the General Assembly of the Union:

    Category       Number of     Units of annual
                Representatives    subscription
        I              1                 1
       II              2                 3
      III              3                 5
       IV              4                 8
        V              5                12

Changes in the amount of the unit annual subscription will be decided by the General Assembly not less than one year in advance.

XVI.

 The subscription of an associate adhering organisation shall be set to cover a four-year period, and the level of this single payment shall be equal to the current annual subscription of a Category I adhering organisation. Admission as an associate adhering organisation shall be conditional on receipt of this subscription by the Treasurer. The status of each adhering associate organisation shall be reviewed after the initial four years and again after a further four years. Associate Membership shall normally be limited to a maximum of eight years. The option to apply for Category I Membership shall be open to an Associate Member at any time.
Article XVI adopted by the General Assembly on August 27, 2008, in Adelaide (Australia)

XVII.

 Any proposal for alteration of the Statutes either prepared by the Bureau or supported by statements to the General-Secretary signed by at least ten voting members of the General Assembly with voting rights, shall be sent to members of the General Assembly with the Agenda for a meeting of the General Assembly. Such proposals shall be discussed during the first session of that meeting and voted upon during the second session (Article V).
Article XVII adopted by the General Assembly on August 28, 1994, in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Rules of procedure for the Congress Committee of IUTAM

1.

 The CC shall hold meetings whenever the General Assembly meets and such a meeting shall follow the format (in-person or by electronic means (virtual)) of the General Assembly meeting. Typically, this is every two years, during the General Assembly meeting between congresses and during the International Congress.

2.

 During an International Congress, the CC shall review proposals for the next International Congress and select the location by a vote of the CC members present (i.e., proxy votes are not permitted). This selection process will typically be accomplished over two separate meetings of the CC.

3.

 The Executive Committee handles matters arising on behalf of the CC during the period between General Assemblies. At each General Assembly the Secretary of the CC reports on all such matters and their disposition since the last General Assembly. The Secretary should stay in close contact with the full membership of the CC and solicit input on substantive issues.

4.

 The actual organization of a Congress is delegated to a President and Secretary-General of the Congress, identified by the host. The President and the Secretary-General of the Congress are responsible to IUTAM for all aspects of the successful conduct of the Congress, including the publication of its Proceedings. The President and the Secretary-General of the Congress shall maintain an ongoing dialog with the Executive Committee, and shall make an annual report on progress to the Executive Committee, and a report to the full committee at every meeting of the CC, from the time the congress location is selected until the congress has been held.

5.

 The President and the Secretary-General of the Congress shall obtain the approval of the CC (often through the Executive Committee) with regard to all matters affecting the general policy of the CC, and in particular with regard to:

5.1.

 the scope of the Congress;

5.2.

 the screening of papers of the Congress;

5.3.

 the selection of general lectures for the Congress;

5.4.

 the appointment of chairmen of sessions of the Congress;

5.5.

 the broad principles regarding financial arrangements for the Congress.

6.

 Following the congress, the host will pay a fee to IUTAM equivalent to a percentage of the registration fee paid by all attendees. The Executive Committee will ascertain that the level of the fee is consistent from congress to congress.
Procedure adopted by the General Assembly on August 19, 2014, in Lyngby, Denmark and amended on May 27, 2020 by electronic means

Procedure for election of the Bureau of IUTAM

1.

 At the General Assembly (GA) preceding the one at which the new Bureau is to be elected, an Electoral Committee (EC) shall be elected, consisting of the President of IUTAM (who shall act as Chairman of the EC) and two to four members of the GA who are not members of the current Bureau.

2.

 Following its election, the EC shall invite from those voting members and observers of the GA indicated under a), b), c), i) and ii) in Article VI of the Statutes, within a specified time limit, suggestions for candidates for the Bureau, viz. for the Offices of President (P), Secretary-General (S) and Treasurer (T), and for the four non-Officer positions. All suggestions shall be treated confidentially by the EC.

3.

 Taking account of all suggestions received, the EC shall submit to the Secretary-General nominations for candidates for election to the Bureau: one name for each of the Officer positions (P, S, T) and one or more names for each of the non-Officer positions (W, X, Y, Z). The EC will make sure that the candidates thus nominated are willing to accept an election. These nominations shall be conveyed by the Secretary-General to the GA in advance of the first session of the meeting of the GA at which the new Bureau is to be elected.

4.

 At this first session, additional candidates may be proposed by members of the GA for each and any of the positions P, S, T, W, X, Y, Z. No candidate may be proposed for more than one position.

5.

 Before the second session of the GA at which the new Bureau is to be elected, the proposals under clause 4 above shall be accepted if supported by statements to the Secretary-General each signed by at least ten (voting) members of the GA and by written confirmation that each nominee is willing to accept election; otherwise they shall be considered withdrawn.

6.

 The GA shall vote separately on the surviving nominations for each of the positions P, S, T, W, X, Y, Z. In any case in which there is more than one candidate for a position, the vote shall be by secret ballot.
Procedure adopted by the General Assembly on August 18, 2004, in Warsaw, Poland

Procedure for electing Members-at-Large of the General Assembly

1.

 This procedure shall apply for the election and re-election of the Members-at-Large of the General Assembly provided for in Article VI(c) of the Statutes.

2.

 Proposals, by members of the General Assembly with voting rights, for Members-at-Large must be received by the Bureau at least three months before the meeting of the General Assembly at which proposals are to be considered, normally during the International Congresses of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ICTAM). All proposals will be treated confidentially by the Bureau.

3.

 Taking into account all material received, the Bureau will present to the General Assembly such proposals as it deems will have at least a reasonable support by the General Assembly, provided however that the total number of Members-at-Large is not to exceed approximately one eighth (1/8) of the total General Assembly membership with voting rights. Such proposals will be circulated to all members of the General Assembly during the first session of meeting of the Assembly at which the proposals are to be voted on.

4.

 Proposals not identical with those presented by the Bureau are considered to be withdrawn, unless they are sustained and supported by at least ten members of the General Assembly before its second session.

5.

 The General Assembly will vote on those candidates mentioned in the proposals of paragraphs 3 and 4.
Procedure adopted by the General Assembly on August 26, 1992, in Haifa, Israel

Rules of Procedure for Adhering Associate Organisations

1.

 Eligibility: the prime criteria for the eligibility of any country X shall be
(a) that X be in the developing world (as commonly understood) and not already a member of IUTAM;
(b) that X can demonstrate an independent scientific activity in TAM, and a desire to extend this activity through association with IUTAM;
(c) that an existing member country of IUTAM has research and/or teaching contacts in X through members of its community, and is prepared to support the application and act in an advisory capacity for X; and
(d) that there exist in X a nationally recognised organisation with approved Statutes (or equivalent), which represents all interested parties within the TAM community in X, and which can act as the Adhering Associate Organisation for the purpose of official communication with, and representation in, IUTAM.

2.

 Rights and privileges: the rights and privileges of Associate Members include

  • the right to have a representative attend the General Assembly of IUTAM as an observer without voting rights;
  • the right to have a representative attend an ICTAM, or any IUTAM Symposium, the registration fee being waived;
  • the right to propose the holding of an IUTAM Summer School in the country of the Associate Member; in the event that such a proposal is successful, then IUTAM could undertake to provide an increased grant (say 50 % more than the current standard allocation).
Procedure adopted by the General Assembly on August 27, 2008, in Adelaide (Australia)
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