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Constitution and Bylaws of Association

The BRICS Association of Gravity Astrophysics and Cosmology

(BRICS-AGAC)

The five countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa dubbed BRICS are among the fast developing world economies today. They have recently come together to foster the mutual development necessary to meet the challenges in various fields including science and technology. These countries have forged ahead in terms of their economic weights and scientific-technological production. The BRICS collaboration provides a broad platform for mutual cooperation in social, economic, science and technological fields. Broad consensus among BRICS countries is reached; the collaborations need to take concrete shapes in various fields of interest, in particular, in the field of science. The BRICS official document (SANYA declaration, 2011) states: We intend to explore cooperation in the sphere of science, technology and innovation (point 28). The further statement focuses on the joint meetings of senior officials for discussing ways of promoting scientific, technological and innovation cooperation for BRICS (point III.4) and puts emphasis on establishing network of research centers of all BRICS countries (point I.9).

During the past decades, the BRICS countries have made notable progress in the theoretical search of fundamental physical laws governing the observed universe, concentrating on the problems of gravitation, astrophysics and cosmology. In order to forge ahead, apart from theoretical breakthrough, one also needs to focus on the observational side which requires large investments. Advanced LIGO and SKA taken up by India and South Africa are examples of large projects in the field astrophysics. The BRICS countries have great potential today to support large projects in the field of astrophysics. It is of utmost importance today that BRICS scientists come together for mutual support and training of our young experts in the said field, in particular. Keeping the general goals in mind, a group of scientists from BRICS decided to form the BRICS Association of Gravity, Astrophysics and Cosmology (BRICS-AGAC).

  1. SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION AND EXCHANGE OF EXPERTS

In order to trigger mutual cooperation, we need to initiate collaborations among the established scientists of our countries. Training and supporting our young experts would form the nucleus of our activities. The association sets the following goals:

  • To promote advancement and dissemination of knowledge of Gravitation, Astrophysics and Cosmology in the BRICS countries for the progress of science in particular, and the benefit of humanity as a whole.
  • To establish scientific collaboration among research institutes and universities

within the BRICS community and to encourage and inspire young scientists for research in gravitation, astrophysics and cosmology.

  • To establish collaboration of BRICS scientists with international scientific organizations, associations and societies associated with gravitation, astrophysics and cosmology.

The association would undertake the following activities to achieve the set goals.

    1. Summer/Winter Schools. The association therefore proposes to organize annually Summer/Winter schools on cutting edge areas of research in Gravitation, Astrophysics and Cosmology (GAC), and invite eminent world experts in the field, from all countries not only from the BRICS ones, to give lectures and tutorials.
    2. Conferences/Workshops. The association will periodically organize conferences/workshops on current theme(s) related to GAC apart from Summer /Winter schools. The program will attract eminent experts from BRICS countries and beyond. The conferences may take place at least once in two years.

To run Summer/Winter schools and Conferences/Workshops effectively, two committees will be established, one is the council, and the other is the board. The board members are recommended by the members of the AGAC Council to be defined below. 

    1. Postdoctoral Fellowships. The research on cutting edge areas in science is done by the involvement of young scientists after their Ph.D. as postdoctoral fellows. The BRICS Association therefore proposes to initiate a postdoctoral fellowship program dubbed the BRICS postdoctoral fellowship with a competitive stipend. The duration of the fellowship will be 2 + 1 years.
    2. Exchange of Ph.D. Students. It will be a great help to exchange Ph.D. students for a short period say three months. Indeed, we should look for joint Ph.D. supervision among the experts of the BRICS countries. It will be of great help not only to students but would enhance collaboration among the established experts. This component of activities is as important as the postdoctoral fellowship program.
    3. Exchange of Faculty. In spite of the fact that we live in the age of information technology, nothing can replace direct human contact. Our experts always need direct contact though for a limited period. Thus, the Association would also initiate exchange programs for experts through short visits of up to three months. We shall also explore the possibility of sabbatical leave to the member states.
    4. BRICS Prizes. The Association will award BRICS prizes for scientists in GAC, including young scientists who are 35 or under 35 years old. The prizes will be accompanied by a token amount along with a certificate, and be presented at the Association biannual conference/workshop. The prizes will not only inspire the BRICS scientists but also trigger a healthy competition among them.
    5. Website. The Association will have its regular website which shall contain information about its aims and objectives. It will regularly be updated with information about its proposed and ongoing activities, in particular, with an up to date knowledge of activities in the field of astrophysics, gravitation and cosmology taking place in the world, in general. We should also introduce some emblem for our Association.
  1. STRUCTURE OF BRICS-AGAC

The proposed organization would have a two tier structure with aim of achieving the set goals. At level one, the organization will take care of general matters of the association such as giving direction to association, taking care of international relations and collaborations within BRICS and beyond. A level two structure would be responsible for specific matters of the association such as organizing scientific programs, holding meeting/conferences and arranging the exchange of scholars and students.

    1. Tier One Structure - The Board: The Board of AGAC will have a chairman, a secretary and five members, one from each of the five countries. They would provide general guidance to the Association which would be binding for the Council. The proposed action at level two would require the approval of the Board.
    2. Tier Two Structure - The Council: The responsibility of the Association officials at this level would have the character of execution of plans and proposals approved by the Board. At this level, the association will have the following structure:
  1. One president.
  2. Four vice-presidents.
  3. One secretary.
  4. One treasurer.
  5. Five members from each country.

The tenure of the Association Officers will be four years. The president is elected by the council members. The secretary is suggested by the president and approved by the council members. The president and secretary can be from the same country. The four vice-presidents, one from each of the other four countries, are recommended by the outgoing council members of their country and approved by all council members. The five council members from each country are recommended by outgoing council members of their country and then approved by the council members. The officials and members will be finally approved by the Board. The officials as well as the members will be in the office strictly for one tenure only. Thereafter, they can play an advisory role. The Association might go for an advisory committee.

Constitution and Bylaws of Association

Article I – Name of the Association:

The name of the Association is the BRICS Association of Gravity Astrophysics and Cosmology (BRICS-AGAC).

Article II - The Board:

Section-1. Composition and Terms of the Board. The Board will have chairman, secretary and five members, one from each BRICS nations. The Board will be appointed by the Council of the Association for a five-year term of office. The Board will consist of leading senior scientists in the field from the five BRICS states.

Section-2. Authorities and Duties. The Board has overall responsibility of setting general directions and policies for AGAC. All the proposals initiated by the Council including financial matters would need the approval of the Board before implementation. The Board will also have authority of approving the changes in Constitutions and Bylaws proposed by the Council.

Section 3. Meetings. The Board will meet at least twice a year, the meeting could be organized via video conferencing. The secretary of the Board will carry responsibility for organizing the Board meetings.

Article III- Council of the Association:

Section 1. Composition and Terms. The Council will be nominated by outgoing council members and approved by the Board. It will have a president, four vice-presidents, a secretary, a treasurer and five members from each of the BRICS countries.

Section 2. Authorities and Duties. The President will be the chair of council. In her/his absence, one of the four vice-presidents, appointed by the Board, will act in her/his place. The financial matters of the Association will be looked after by the treasurer. The secretary would convey the message of president/vice-president to the members and the treasurer as well as to the board on the behest of the president. The council will have overall responsibility of governance including the design of academic strategy of the association, and overseeing and implementing its financial operations.

Section 3. Meetings. The Council should call at least one meeting after every six month. Emergency meetings can be called as and when a need arises. The meeting could also be arranged using Skype and the like facilities.

Article IV. Academic Committees:

Section 1: Organizing Committee. The Council of the Association after taking approval of the Board for holding summer/winter schools/workshops will form local and international committees for facilitating organizing of the said activities. These activities would take place on rotation basis among the five BRICS countries.

Section 2. Selection Committee. The selection of postdoctoral fellows will be conducted through a selection appointed by the Council and approved by the Board. The selection committee will consist of leading experts from the five BRICS members. The committee will have power of assigning a particular number of postdoctoral fellows to a particular BRICS member depending upon the situation. The Council may appoint the selection committee valid for a period of three years.

Article V. Election of Council and Board:

Section 1. The Council. The members of the outgoing council would propose the names for the next office bearers to the president. Once agreed upon, the names will be forwarded to the Board for approval.

Section 2. The Board. The Board will be appointed by the Council after consulting the leading experts in the field from the five BRICS members.

Article VI. Altering the Constitution:

This Constitution is binding on the Board, Council, and committees. It can only be altered by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Board.

Article VII. Membership:

The association will open its membership to all the faculty members/post-doctoral fellows/Ph.D students working in Gravity, Astrophysics and Cosmology or on the interface of high energy physics and gravity from BRICS countries. The membership will be free for those who enter during the first year and then some fee may be introduced. Members would be eligible to the BRICS prizes and to be elected on their country council of the association. Members will pay reduced fee at the meetings organized by the association. Members will be entitled to receive the decisions and announcements of BRICS-AGAC by email. Association will make arrangement for on line application for its membership.