International Union of Pure and Applied Physics


The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics is an international non-governmental organization whose mission is to assist in the worldwide development of physics, to foster international cooperation in physics, and to help in the application of physics toward solving problems of concern to humanity.
It was established in 1922 and the first General Assembly was held in 1923 in Paris.
IUPAP carries out this mission by: sponsoring international meetings; fostering communications and publications; encouraging research and education; fostering the free circulation of scientists; promoting international agreements on the use of symbols, units, nomenclature and standards; and cooperating with other organizations on disciplinary and interdisciplinary problems.
IUPAP is a member of the International Council for Science.

History

In 1919 was formed the International Research Council “largely through the representatives of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, and of the Royal Society, London, to coordinate international efforts in the different branches of sciences, under whose aegis international associations or unions in different branches of science could be formed".
In accordance with this principle, the 1922 General Assembly of the IRC convened at Brussels and a number of physicists present decided that the formation of a Physics Union was imperative.
Thirteen countries immediately announced their adherence to the new Union.
An Executive committee was formed which undertook to prepare rules, regulations, and activities of the organization. The committee consisted of ten distinguished physicists:- W.H. Bragg, M. Brillouin, O.M. Corbino, M. Knudsen, M. Leblanc, R.A. Millikan, H. Nagaoka, E. Van Aubel, and H. Abraham. The committee had Bragg as President, Van Aubel as Vice-President, and Abraham as Secretary.
This was the birth of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.

Committees and governance

The Union is governed by its General Assembly, which meets every three years. The Council is its top executive body, supervising the activities of the nineteen specialized International Commissions and the four Affiliated Commissions – it typically meets once or twice per year. The Union is composed of Members representing identified physics communities. At present 60 Members adhere to IUPAP. The Members are represented by Liaison Committees. Members of the Council and Commissions are elected by the General Assembly, based on nominations received from Liaison Committees and existing Council and Commission members.
The IUPAP specialised Commissions are:
C1.
C2.
C3.
C4. . The commission was previously known as the Commission on Cosmic Rays.
C5.
C6.
C8.
C9.
C10.
C11.
C12.
C13.
C14.
C15.
C16.
C17.
C18.
C19.
C20.
The Affiliated Commissions are:
AC.1. International Commission for Optics
AC.2.
AC.3. International Commission for Acoustics
AC.4.
In addition IUPAP has established a number of Working Groups to provide an overview of important areas of international collaboration in physics.

Sponsored conferences

Each year, IUPAP endorses approximately 30 international conferences and awards grants to the majority of them. Applications for sponsorship can be made via the IUPAP website.
Sponsored conferences fall into four categories:
General Conferences - Type A
These provide a broad overview of an entire field, and normally occur at two- or three-year intervals, as advances in the field warrant. Attendance in the range of 750-1000 would be anticipated.
Topical Conferences - Type B
These concentrate on broad sub-fields. They would normally be scheduled in the years between the corresponding Type A General conferences. Attendance in the range of 300-600 would be anticipated.
Special Conferences - Type C
These concentrate on much more specialised topics than in the case of Type B Conferences. Attendance in the range of 50-200 would be anticipated.
Workshops in Developing Countries - Type D
These concentrate on meeting the needs of a developing region. Unlike the Type A, B and C conferences, they do not need to be truly international, but should involve neighbouring countries, and they should address the needs of the region. One Type D conference will be approved each year. All applications for Type-D Conferences must be submitted to the Commission on Physics for Development.

Sponsored awards

IUPAP commissions sponsor various awards for scientists. These include:
IUPAP was founded by 13 states:- Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Empire of Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and Union of South Africa in 1922. Since then many new members have joined the union.Today the IUPAP consists of 56 member states.
Below is the list of Member States of IUPAP:-

List of IUPAP Presidents

The IUPAP President is the head of the Executive Council. IUPAP Presidents are elected by the General Assembly. During the election of the Executive Council, the future President is also elected by the post of President-Designate. Thus the in every Executive Council the current President-Designate will succeed the incumbent President.
Below is the list of IUPAC Presidents since its inception in 1922.
TermPresidentNationality
1922-1931Sir Willilam Henry Bragg
1931-1934Robert Andrews Millikan
1934-1947Mann Siegbahn
1947-1951Hendrik Anthony Kramers
1951-1957Sir Nevill Francis Mott
1957-1960Edoardo Amaldi
1960-1963Homi Jehangir Bhabha
1963-1966Louis Eugène Félix Néel
1966-1969Dmitrii Ivanovich Blokhintsev
1969-1972Robert Fox Bacher
1972-1975Heinz Maier-Leibnitz
1975-1978Sir Clifford Charles Butler
1978-1981Leonard Sosnowski
1981-1984Kai Manne Börje Siegbahn
1984-1987David Allan Bromley/
1987-1990Larkin Kerwin
1990-1993Yuri Andreevich Ossipyan
1993-1996Yasatuka Yamaguchi
1996-1999Jan S. Nilsson
1999-2002Burton Richter
2002-2005Yves Pierre Petroff
2005-2008Alan Astbury
2008-2011Sukekatsu Ushioda
2011-2014Cecilia Jarlskog
2014-2017Bruce McKellar
2017-2020Kennedy J. Reed
2020-2023Michel Spiro