2008 International Physiology Committee Report
Background
The primary duties of the International Physiology
Committee include establishing communication and facilitating interchange
between the APS, other physiological societies, and their individual
members, developing programs to enhance the role of APS on the international
scene and developing mechanisms for promoting interactions and exchanges of
APS members and foreign scientists.
The Latin American Initiative Events funded in 2008
APS launched the Latin American Initiative (LAI) in
2000 with the aim of strengthening the ties between APS, sister
Physiological Societies in Latin America, and physiologists working in the
Americas. Since its inception, the LAI has been handled by the
International Physiology Committee. Each year, the initiative supports four
courses/workshops/symposia that are carried out in Latin American countries
with participation of APS members. The budget for each
course/workshop/symposium is $5,000. The International Physiology Committee
received seven applications in 2007 for LAI funding in 2008.
Improving the Numbers and Quality of LAI
Applications
Committee members involved in reviewing LAI
applications expressed disappointment in the number of applications received
over the last 3-4 years and in the quality of some of the applications. The
Committee agreed that the guidelines for applications for LAI funding should
be revised to give applicants a better idea of what information was required
to maximize the chances of obtaining LAI funding. Revision of the
guidelines was done in conjunction with the development of an on-line
application process. All applications for LAI funding must now be made
through the APS awards site http://www.the-aps.org/awardapps. The deadline
for receipt of applications continues to be in June.
New Initiative: International Travel Awards
In 2007, the International Physiology Committee
recommended that Council create an International Fellows Award to enable
more physiologists from outside the US to attend and participate in EB
meetings. Council asked the Committee to develop the proposal further and to
indicate how it could be differentiated from other programs for which
international students and fellows are eligible.
The Committee has analysed data on the numbers of
international applicants and international winners of Section Awards in
2007. There are 50 categories of Sections Awards with some categories having
up to three winners. Although 23.1% of APS members are international, only
about 15% of applicants for Section Awards in 2007 were international and
only about 12% of awards were won by international applicants. This data
indicates that international participants at the EB meetings are
significantly under-represented as both applicants for Sections Awards and
as winners of these Awards. The Committee recommended that the APS
establish a new category of Society Award, the “International Travel Award”
to enable up to 10 early career physiologists working outside the US to
attend the Experimental Biology Meeting and present their work.
Increasing International Membership in APS
International membership in APS has been relatively
constant since 2002, hovering between 2,000 and 2,300. This lack of growth
in international membership may reflect the fact that APS has not yet
designed a strategy to attract more members in this category. APS is known
worldwide for its best-practice programs such as mentoring young
physiologists through the activities of the Women in Physiology Committee,
for the democratic way in which it disperses resources to APS Sections and
for supporting it members through initiatives like free color in APS
journals. The International Physiology Committee would like to see APS
achieve similar status in relation to its support of international members.
It is necessary for APS to define the needs of international members and to
ensure that that international members value their association with APS and
the services that APS provides.
Increasing the International Profile of APS
APS already has good collaborative links with the
Physiological Society (UK) and with the Australian Physiological Society and
has a record of joining with these societies in sponsoring activities, such
as the Beijing Joint Conference of Physiological Sciences 2008. These
activities have benefited members of the participating societies with less
cost and effort than would have been involved in “going it alone.” Obvious
targets for future partnership arrangements are the Canadian Physiological
Society and the Physiological Society of Japan since both of these countries
provide high numbers of international APS members. In light of the growing
global importance of China and India and despite the low numbers of APS
members from China and India, it would also be worthwhile to consider
increasing links with the Chinese Physiological Society and the
Physiological Society of India.
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