The following short description of the CNC/IUGG was submitted to the
CMOS Bulletin in March, 1998. Similar articles can be submitted to
other organizations.
CANADIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE (CNC) for the INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF GEODESY AND GEOPHYSICS (IUGG)
The Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society is quite involved
in the conduct of the CNC/IUGG. The purpose of this brief update is
to inform CMOS members of the scope and activities of CNC/IUGG and
to ask for suggestions on committee activities.
The objectives of the CNC/IUGG committee are to:
- collect and reconcile the many views of the constituent Canadian
scientific community on relevant issues
- identify, represent, and promote the capabilities and distinctive
competence of the community on the international stage
- enhance the depth and breadth of the participation of the community
in the activities and events of the IUGG and related organizations
- establish the mechanisms for communicating to the community
the views of the IUGG and information about the activities of
the IUGG.
In terms of scope, the CNC/IUGG committee:
- promotes, within Canada, such as to ensure maximum benefits
to Canada, international programs in Geodesy and Geophysics and
Canadian participation in international activities sponsored by
the IUGG, its component International Associations, Inter-Union
Commissions and special committees of ICSU which involve the IUGG
- promotes, within the IUGG, its component International Associations,
Inter-Union Commissions and special committees for ICSU which
involve the IUGG, those international activities which are relevant,
or of special interest, to Canada, and to coordinate all aspects
of Canadian participation in the discussion and dissemination
of the results of such activities
- formulates Canadian positions with respect to IUGG activities
and those of its component International Associations and of other
related committees and commissions and to advise Council on the
activities of the IUGG, its component International Associations
and the other related committees and commissions, the activities
of the CNC/IUGG and of Canadian participation in the same, where
appropriate
- acts as a channel of communication among the IUGG, its component
International Associations, other related committees and commissions,
Council, Canadian scientific societies, scientists and Canadian
industry.
The CNC/IUGG is administered by the Canadian Geophysical Union, in
consultation with the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society
and other Canadian scientific organizations including the Canadian
Association of Physicists, the Geological Association of Canada, and
the Canadian Institute of Geomatics. The IUGG adhering organization
for Canada is the National Research Council of Canada.
The membership of the committee is made up of appointments
from each of the seven associations of the IUGG as well as Canadian
members of some of the other IUGG activities. The seven associations
are the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), the International
Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA), the International
Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), the International Association
of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (IAMAS), the International
Association for the Physical Sciences of the Ocean (IAPSO), the
International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's
Interior (IASPEI), and the International Association of Volcanology
and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI).
CMOS selects four members of the CNC/IUGG to serve as representatives
of IAMAS and IAPSO. Currently the members are Peter Taylor (York
University) and Ronald Stewart (Atmospheric Environment Service)
for IAMAS, and Yves Gratton (Institut national de la recherche scientifique)
and Michael Foreman (Institute of Ocean Sciences) for IAPSO. Much
of the secretarial support for the committee is provided by the
Canadian Geophysical Union.
The chair of CNC/IUGG is selected from its current members
and the present one is Ronald Stewart. One of the normal functions
of the chair is to act as the head of the Canadian delegation to
IUGG General Assemblies.
To realize its objectives, the committee either is or is
planning to carry out several activities. The committee has been
promoting Canadian participation and leadership in IUGG and its
associated conferences, and it is presently considering the preparation
of special scientific review articles on topics such as natural
hazards and post-Kyoto activities. The committee will soon also
start to prepare a summary report on the research carried out in
Canada in the fields of geodesy and geophysics to be tabled at the
IUGG'99 General Assembly in Birmingham, UK.
If you would like further information on CNC/IUGG, please
refer to its home page at www.tor.ec.gc.ca/CNC/CNC.html or access
it through the CMOS home page. Questions and suggestions can also
be sent directly to Ronald Stewart (Ron.Stewart@ec.gc.ca).
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