5. VICE PRESIDENTIAL CRITICAL ASSESSMENT
Prof. Steyn spoke to his paper. He plans to address two major
subjects. The first is the assessment of the progress and problems
associated with the change in the Union's management of its
scientific work. Feedback will be solicited from Division Presidents
and Standing Committee Chairmen. The second is to evaluate the
success achieved in meeting each of the ten Goals in the Strategic
Plan. Dr. Becker commented that the first subject was a timely
one. Prof. Jortner suggested that a focus on IUPAC's role in
the service of chemistry in the global context should be added.
Dr. Hayes noted that his attempts to improve the Union's involvement
with the UN agencies had not been successful. He suggested a
strategic overview of this subject might be useful. The subsequent
discussion concluded that the UN agencies were difficult to
deal with other than on a project by project basis. The Committee
encouraged Prof. Steyn to proceed as he had proposed.
6. SHOULD THE VPCA BE ADDED TO THE COUNCIL
AGENDA?
After a brief discussion of the background to this subject,
the Committee decided to add the VPCA to the agenda of the 2001
and subsequent Council meetings.
7. PLANS FOR IUPAC MEETING IN PERU, OCTOBER
14, 2000
Dr. Jost reported that Prof. Gabriel Infante from Puerto Rico
had offered to provide a list of possible participants for this
meeting. It was noted that unlike the meetings organized in
North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, there was no local
champion able to take on the organization of this meeting. The
activity of the American Chemical Society in this area might
be helpful. There was some discussion of how this meeting related
to the Chemistry World Leadership meeting (see Item 8). It was
decided that this meeting was of potential value and should
be pursued. Dr. Jost was asked to contact Prof. Carol Collins
of Brazil to obtain the names of more potential participants.
The agenda of the meeting will have to be developed by the Secretariat
in conjunction with Prof. Infante, Prof. Collins, and possibly
other Latin American chemists active in IUPAC. Dr. Hayes was
asked to represent IUPAC at the meeting.
8. CONFERENCE OF LEADERS OF WORLD CHEMICAL
COMMUNITY
One of the action items emanating from the meeting of Presidents
of National Chemical Societies in Berlin, just after the General
Assembly, asked IUPAC to collect and organize information on
programs being planned or conducted by major Chemical Societies
to aid developing countries. With this information in hand,
IUPAC was asked to organize a meeting of leaders of the world
chemical community to discuss potential collaborative efforts.
The Committee agreed that a meeting should be organized for
the Brisbane General Assembly to include both national chemical
societies and regional chemical societies. The meeting would
take place on the Monday after the Council meeting. Funding
would be provided for some delegates by IUPAC. Additional funding
would be sought from the major chemical societies.
Prof. Steyn will chair an organizing committee, with Dr. Jost
and Dr. Meyers providing staff support. Possible members of
the organizing committee are: Dr. Hayes, Prof. Jortner, Prof.
Ohtaki, Dr. Becker, Prof. Sydnes, Prof. Gilbert, and Prof. Nefedov.
A tentative time was set for the organizing committee to meet
on September 21, two days before the Bureau meeting. Dr. Jost
was asked to contact Dr. John Malin of the ACS concerning a
possible format for a questionnaire to obtain necessary information.
The Secretariat will distribute the questionnaire to the chemical
societies in developed countries and collect the responses.
A report will be prepared for the Bureau meeting. The results
will be organized for posting on the IUPAC web site.
