Almost one quarter of all APS members now come from countries other than the US. Since 2000, there has been a remarkable 66% increase in the number of international APS members. The International Physiology Committee is committed to being an integral part of APS' international efforts and to identifying and implementing ways in which APS can provide better service to the existing international membership base.
Committee Programs: The International Physiology Committee now coordinates and oversees two programs: the Latin American Initiative, which began in 2000; and the International Early Career Physiologist Travel Awards. During the past year, the International Physiology Committee was also asked to assess the scientific quality of abstracts submitted for the IUPS 2009 Travel Awards.
The Latin American Initiative: At the closing deadline of June 30, 2008, three applications for LAI funding in 2009 had been received. Review of the applications by the Committee indicated that one merited funding and that the others were potentially fundable. As a result, Council approved funding for the successful application. The potentially fundable applications were returned and the applicants were advised to revise and resubmit. Because there was still the possibility of awarding $5,000 in LAI support if the two revised applications were funded, the Committee called for a second round of LAI applications with a submission deadline of November 1. Five applications were received. Three of these applications were funded, including a revised application from the first round.
Improving the Numbers and Quality of LAI Applications: At the 2008 meeting of the International Committee, members expressed concern about the numbers of applications received over the last three to four years and about the quality of some of the applications. As a result of this discussion, the guidelines for applications were revised to give applicants a better idea of what information was required to maximize the chances of obtaining LAI funding. At the same time, the APS staff developed an online application form so that all applications for LAI funding are now made through the APS awards site. At the 2009 meeting, Committee members indicated that they were pleased with the improvement in the general quality of the applications for LAI funding that resulted from the guideline changes and decided that no further action was required. The Committee believed that the number of applications was adequate but decided to ask local Physiological Societies in Latin America to publicize the LAI.
International Early Career Physiologist Travel Awards: In 2008, the International Physiology Committee recommended that Council create an International Travel Award to enable early career physiologists from outside the US to attend and participate in EB meetings. The Committee developed guidelines and an online application for the new International Early Career Physiologist (IECP) Travel Award.
Committee members were generally happy with the quality of the applicants for the IECP Travel Awards but were surprised at the scientific quality of some of the abstracts. The problem with scientific quality of abstracts was highlighted by the Committees' review of the IUPS 2009 Travel Awards. Many of the 41 abstracts reviewed for the IUPS Travel Awards were not of an acceptable standard, highlighting the need for clearer guidelines for the preparation of a good-quality abstract. The Committee decided that the guidelines for the IECP Travel Award should include instructions about what constitutes a good abstract, including a link to the relevant section of the APS website. The Committee also believed that guidelines for other abstract-based awards should also include similar instructions and links.
Joint Meetings with Other Physiological Societies: APS has been asked to participate in a joint meeting of the Spanish Physiological Society and Portuguese Society of Endocrinology, which will take place in 2012 under the auspices of FEPS. The Spanish Society suggested that APS sponsor a symposium. The Committee is discussing how to select joint symposia for such meetings and drafting guidelines for developing and selecting symposia for joint meetings such as these.
Increasing International Membership in APS: Last year, the International Committee proposed to conduct an online survey of international members in order to discover their reasons for joining APS, which services they consider valuable, and how they believe services to international members could be improved. The Committee discussed the content and timing of this survey during its meeting at EB 2009. The Committee is currently drafting a survey based on the 2007 Trainee Needs Assessment Survey and the 2005 Members Survey that was conducted during the development of the 2006-2010 Strategic Plan.