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.