PSA STRUCTURE

The Pacific Science Association is governed by the Pacific Science Council, which meets every two years and elects the PSA Executive Board. The Executive Board is the implementing body of PSA, and meets annually to set policy and oversees the general activities of the PSA. The The PSA Secretariat is responsible for running the day-to-day affairs of the Association.

PACIFIC SCIENCE COUNCIL

The Pacific Science Council is composed of one or several representatives from each national member to PSA (known as an Adhering Organization). The Council is the governing body of PSA, and meets at Pacific Science Congresses and Inter-Congresses to vote on Executive Board decisions, and to elects the Executive Board members that are responsible for running PSA between Council meetings. Click here for more information on the PSA Council.

 

NATIONAL MEMBERS (Adhering Organizations)

Current national members include Australia, China-Beijing, China-Hong Kong, China-Taipei, France, Guam, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Okinawa, Pacific Islands (Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu), Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Click here for more information on PSA Adhering Organizations.

National Committees to the Pacific Science Association are typically established by each Adhering Organization, and they in turn select their representatives to the Pacific Science Council. National Committees also implement national-level activities of the PSA.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Executive Board is the governing body of PSA, and sets policy, defines strategic plans, and is responsible for overseeing the overall activities of PSA. The Board formally meets on an annual basis, and consists of a President, Vice-President, Secretary-General, Treasurer, four Ordinary Members (all elected by the Pacific Science Council), the past PSA President (ex officio), and Secretary-General of upcoming Pacific Science Congresses/Inter-Congresses (ex officio). Click here for the full list of current Officers and Board Members and their contact information.

PSA President
Dr. Congbin Fu, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China- Beijing

PSA Vice-President
Dr. Nancy Lewis, Director of Research, the East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

PSA Secretary General
Dr. Makoto Tsuchiya, Dean, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan

PSA Treasurer
Professor Dr. Azizan Abu Samah, Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences [and] National Antarctic Research Centre, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

PSA Ordinary Board Members
Dr. Chang-Hung Chou, Director, Research Center for Biodiversity, China Medical University, Taipei, China-Taipei

Professor Datuk Dr. Mazlan Othman FASc , Director General, National Space Agency, Malaysia

Academician Valentin Sergienko, Chairman, Russian Academy of Sciences, Far Eastern Branch

Dr. Ana Taufe’ulungaki, Pro Vice Chancellor, Research and Graduate Affairs, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji

PSA Past President
Dr. Kiyoshi Kurokawa, Science Advisor to the Prime Minister [and] Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo, Japan

PSA Ex-Officio Board Members

Chair of 22nd Pacific Science Congress in 2011 (to be announced)

Chair of 11th Pacific Science Inter-Congress in 2009 (French Polynesia; to be announced)

SECRETARIAT

The PSA Secretariat runs the day-to-day affairs of the Association, including facilitating various PSA Scientific Working Groups and research initiatives relevant to the organization’s mission; it liaises with national and international organizations, and carries out PSA administrative tasks. Click here for more information on the current PSA Secretariat.

Executive Secretary
John Burke Burnett
Phone: 808-848-4124
Fax: 808-847-8252.
burnett@bishopmuseum.org

ADHERING ORGANIZATIONS

The Science Council of Japan
http://www.scj.go.jp/ ()
The Science Council of Japan, born of the firm conviction that science constitutes the foundation of culture, was established, in January 1949, for promotion and permeation of science in all government agencies, industries and people's lives, as the organization to represent Japanese scientists, both in Japan and abroad and as a "special agency" under jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Office. In the subsequent reorganization of central government agencies in January 2001, the Council was affiliated with the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommnunications.

The Council, consisting of 210 representative members (term: 3 years) elected from among some 730,000 scientists in the country, and functioning independently, is mandated (1) to deliberate on important matters related to science and implement decisions reached and (2) to promote effective exchanges among researchers to achieve greater productivity in conducting scientific research.

The Council provides counsel and recommendations when requested by the government and also has authority to offer, on its own initiative, advice and opinions to the government.

Some of the Council's international activities include: affiliating with various international academic institutions, sending delegations to academically important conferences overseas and to countries under bilateral academic exchange programs, and cosponsoring and supporting important international academic conferences in Japan.

National Academy of Sciences (USA)
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a private, non-profit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is the president of the National Academy of Sciences.  The Academy is represented to the PSA by the U.S. National Committee for PSA.

National Academies Forum (Australia)
The National Academies Forum is the peak organisation for the four Australian learned academies: Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and Australian Academy of the Humanities. Established in 1995, the Forum provides a basis for cooperative activities by the four Academies and a common point of access to the Academies for outside organisations and individuals. It promotes a unified national vision, helping to overcome the difficulties that have often separated science, technology and engineering from the social sciences and the humanities.

China Association for Science and Technology (China - Beijing)
http://www.cast.org.cn/ (Chinese language)
The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization of Chinese scientific and technological workers. As a bridge between the nation's scientific and technological workers and the government, it is an important driving force in developing the country’s science and technology. The major tasks of CAST are: 1) to promote the advancement of science and technology by means of scientific exchanges; 2) to popularize scientific knowledge among the general public; 3) to safeguard the legitimate rights of scientific and technological workers and organize them to participate in the political life of the state; 4) to award scientific and technological workers with outstanding contributions; 5) to provide policy advice and other services to the government and the society on science- and technology-related issues so as to contribute to the nation’s economic and social development; 6) to develop cooperative relations with the international science and technology community; and 7) to conduct continued education through various training programs.

Insitut de France – Académie des sciences (France)
http://www.academie-sciences.fr/ (Français)
The Academy of Sciences of the Institute of France brings together French scholars and forms associations with foreign scholars, where both the former and the latter are selected from among the most eminent. By their involvement, they contribute to the accomplishing of the missions of the Academy. The Academy of Sciences is independent and durable, it encourages scientific life, and contributes to progress in the sciences and in their applications: it studies social questions associated with the development of the sciences and formulates recommendations, possibly with the involvement of other Academies, it is involved in the development of international scientific relations, notably within the European Union, and in the representation abroad of research carried out in France, it monitors the quality of the teaching of the sciences and works to ensure that the products of scientific development are integrated into the culture of people of our time, it encourages the diffusion of science among the public, it diligently upholds the role and the quality of French scientific language. The Academy represents New Caledonia and French Polynesia in the PSA.

Academia Sinica (China – Taipei )
http://www.sinica.edu.tw/ (Chinese language)
Academia Sinica was founded in Nanking on June 9, 1928 . As the highest academic institution in Taiwan , Academia Sinica has two basic missions: conducting scientific research in its own institutes, as well as providing guidance, channels of communication, and encouragement to raising academic standards in the country. Academia Sinica has adopted various measures to promote internal integration of research activities in the three research disciplines (mathematics and physical sciences; life sciences; and humanities and social sciences); to help with the planning, implementation, and evaluation of long-term projects in order to enhance the impact of the research activities; to harness basic research results for applications and technology transfer; to engage the academic and research community within China-Taipei (Taiwan) toward a modern and forward-looking collective academic vision; to cultivate an intellectual environment that is conducive to the nurturing of young scholars and the recognition of outstanding scholarship in China-Taipei; and to promote international cooperation and scholarly exchanges that will accelerate the overall development of academic research in Academia Sinica and China-Taipei.

University of Hong Kong (China – Hong Kong)
The University of Hong Kong (or HKU, as it is familiarly known to students, staff and alumni) is the oldest tertiary education institution in Hong Kong. On March 16, 1910, Sir Frederick Lugard, the then Governor of Hong Kong, laid the foundation stone for the University, signifying the birth of Hong Kong's first tertiary institution. HKU is an adhering organization to the Pacific Science Association.

The University of Guam (USA)
The University of Guam, accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, is a 4-year Land-Grant U.S. institution which offers baccalaureate and master degrees. Founded in June 1952, the institution also excels in Pacific island research through its diverse research centers, e.g., Cancer Research Center, Institute for Micronesian Health and Aging Studies, Marine Laboratory, Micronesian Language Institute, Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center, Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific, and Western Pacific Tropical Research Center.

The Indonesian Institute of Science (Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia - LIPI)
http://www.lipi.go.id/ (Bahasa Indonesia)
LIPI’s mandate is To assist the President of the Republic of Indonesia in organizing research and development, to provide guidance and service in science and technology, and advise the government on national science and technology policy. It conducts research and development of science and technology; provides guidance on the development of science and technology; encourages and develops science consciousness among the Indonesian people; encourages and develops the scientific community; develops cooperation with national as well as international scientific bodies; provides services relating to science and technology; and advises the government on the formulation of national policy on science and technology in the following fields: Social Science and Humanities, Natural Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Scientific Infrastructure.

The Macau Foundation (China – Macau)
The Macao Foundation is instituted to promote, develop or research on cultural, social, economic, educational, scientific, academic and philanthropic activities, as well as activities that promote Macao. The Macao Foundation mainly conducts its activities in Macao , and conducts exchanges and co-operations with institutions at home and abroad having similar ideals.

The University of the South Pacific (Fiji)
Based in Suva , Fiji , The University of the South Pacific (USP) is the premier provider of tertiary education in the Pacific Region, and an international centre of excellence for teaching and research on all aspects of Pacific culture and environment. Established in 1968, USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting high calibre students and staff from throughout the Pacific Region and internationally. The University represents twelve Member Countries: Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The National Academy of Sciences (Republic of Korea)
http://www.nas.go.kr/main.php (Korean language)
The National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Korea , is the Senior national organization of distinguished Korean scientists and scholars. Its primary objective is to promote learning and research in all areas of sciences by conferring membership and preferential treatment to those who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of sciences and learning. The Academy consists of 150 Fellows who are selected by their peers for outstanding contributions to the sciences and education. The Academy is dedicated to: fostering the highest levels of learning and research in all areas of scholarship by conferring the National Academy of Sciences Award; making available its members' broad and varied knowledge to evaluate and advise on social, cultural, economic and scientific issues for the benefit of Korea; promoting Korean scholarship and accomplishments internationally through active exchanges with other national academies; and suggesting policy recommendations of the promotion of science to the national government.

University of the Ryukyus (Japan)
http://www.u-ryukyu.ac.jp/ ()
The University of the Ryukyus was founded in 1950 under U.S. military control and became a Japanese national university in 1972, when Okinawa reverted to Japan. This historical background gives UR university unique characteristics that cannot be found in other national universities in Japan . Japanese universities are now undergoing a barrage of reforms, learning a great deal from U.S. universities. Since its foundation, our university has maintained a number of systems that other Japanese universities are now considering adopting.

Ministry Of Science, Technology & The Environment, Malaysia (MOST)

Academy of Sciences (Malaysia)
The mission of the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia is the pursuit, encouragement and enhancement of excellence in the fields of science, engineering and technology, for the development of the nation and the benefit of mankind. ASM is not an adhering member of PSA, but rather this position is fulfilled by the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology & The Environment.

Russian Academy of Sciences (русский язык)
Click here for the English language website of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS-FEB).
RAS-FEB contains 35 research institutions under 6 regional scientific centers (Amur Scietific Center, Kamchatka Scientific Center, Primorsky Scientific Center, Sakhalin Scientific Center, North-East Scientific Center, and Khabarovsk Scientific Center). The staff of the FEB RAS is 7,435 members, including 1,461 research staff members (13 Academicians, 20 Corresponding Members, 271 Doctors of Sciences and 1,157 Candidates of Sciences). Scientific activities are focused on studies of geology and geophysical consistent patterns of evolution and structure of the transition zone from the continent to the ocean, development of scientific basis for technologies for complex processes of automation and making of expert systems, development of communication systems, evaluation of seismic and volcanic danger, fundamental research of biodiversity, evolution and ecology of the plant and animal kingdom of the Far East, study of molecular basis of structure of marine biological systems, investigation of principles of molecular structure of marine biological systems, investigation in molecular immunology, biotechnology, oceanography, history and ethnography.

The Singapore National Academy of Science (Singapore)
The Singapore National Academy of Science is an umbrella organization for the premier scientific societies in Singapore. Established in 1967, its principal mission objective is the promotion of science and technology in Singapore. The nine scientific societies under the aegis of the Academy are: Institute of Physics Singapore; Singapore Association for the Advancement of Science; Singapore Institute of Biology; Singapore Mathematical Society; Singapore National Institute of Chemistry; Singapore Institute of Statistics; Singapore Society for Microbiology & Biotechnology; Singapore Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; and Science Teachers Association of Singapore. The various constituent societies play a very active role in the promotion of their respective mission objectives. Some of the important programmes of the Academy include the following: presentation of SNAS Young Scientist Awards, which was instituted in 1997 to give recognition to outstanding young researchers; publication of the international science journal, COSMOS, with the Editorial Board comprising Nobel Laureates, Fellows of the Royal Society, and other eminent scientists; organizing of regular international conferences Presentation of SNAS Awards to outstanding university students in the various scientific disciplines; publishing of papers in international refereed journals and chapters in books of international publishers on issues of national significance under the Academy's byline. The Academy is headed by Professor Leo Tan Wee Hin, Director of the National Institute of Education and Professor of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University.

National Research Council of Thailand (Thailand)
http://www.nrct.net/ (Thai language)
The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) was inaugurated by the National Research Council Act B.E.2502 (1959) and was designated by the Cabinet as the national body responsible for implementing research – related matters and considering proposals of the Office of the National Research Council of Thailand before forwarding them with comments to the Cabinet. The council is also assigned to give the Prime Minister comments on research issues upon requested. The NRCT is chaired by the Prime Minister, with Deputy Prime Ministers as Vice Chairmen, and Ministers and Deputy Ministers as Advisors.

The Royal Society (United Kingdom)
As the UK national academy of science founded in 1660, the Royal Society plays a crucial role as the champion of top quality science and technology. It does this by: funding top science researchers; stimulating international interaction through grants; producing authoritative statements and reports which provide advise government and the public on key issues in science and technology; publishing scientific journals and maintaining a richly resourced history of science library and archive; devising a science communications programme comprising meetings, lectures, exhibitions aimed at specialists and non-specialists; promoting science education and awareness; and rewarding scientific excellence by electing to its Fellowship the most distinguished scientists in the UK and the Commonwealth and by awarding medals and prizes to scientists throughout the world for work of distinction.

National Centre for Scientific Research (Vietnam )
No URL located.

PSA Secretariat

Based at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, the PSA Secretariat facilitates various research initiatives relevant to the organization’s mission, liaises with national and international organizations, and carries out PSA administration tasks.

PSA Executive Secretary
John Burke Burnett (2004 - present)
In March 2004, John Burke Burnett took over the running of the Pacific Science Association. Burke, as he likes to be called, has a focus on the interface between conservation policy, biological science, and traditional communities. He has an academic background in policy, economics and anthropology, and has worked closely with scientists, NGOs, corporate and governmental organizations, and local communities in the Asia-Pacific for the last 15 years. His field experience is primarily in East Asia and the Pacific with particular emphasis in eastern Indonesia and New Guinea. He co-founded the Indo-Pacific Conservation Alliance (IPCA), and will remain its Executive Director. From 1995-98 he was Special Projects Coordinator [and] Japan Coordinator at Conservation International's Asia-Pacific Program. He lived in both Japan and Indonesia for two years each, and in Washington DC for 15 years. He has strong conversational and reading knowledge of Indonesian/Malaysian and Japanese languages. Degrees: M.A., (International Economics), Johns Hopkins University - School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS); 1991. B.S., Southern Methodist University, 1987.

Past Executive Secretaries
Lu Eldredge (1989 – 2004)
The former Executive Secretary, L.G. Eldredge, is pursuing his interests in marine introduced species and Pacific regional information at the Bishop Museum.

Brenda Bishop (1948 – 1988)

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