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Article I - NAME OF THE ASSOCIATION
The name of this organization is the “lnternational Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment”, or, in French, “Association Internationale de Géologie de I'lngénieur et de l'Environnement”. The official abbreviations are, IAEG or, in French, AIGI.
Throughout these Statutes the word “Association” or the abbreviation IAEG is used to mean the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment.
The Association is affiliated to the International Union of Geological Sciences (lUGS).
Article II - THE DEFINITION OF ENGINEERING
GEOLOGY
Engineering Geology is the science devoted to the investigation, study and solution of the engineering and environmental problems which may arise as the result of the interaction between geology and the works and activities of man as well as to the prediction of and the development of measures for prevention or remediation of geological hazards.
Engineering Geology embraces :
– the definition of the geomorphology, structure, stratigraphy, lithology and groundwater conditions of geological formations ;
– the characterisation of the mineralogical, physico-geomechanical, chemical and hydraulic properties of all earth materials involved in construction, resource recovery and environmental change ;
– the assessment of the mechanical and hydrologic behaviour of soil and rock masses ;
– the prediction of changes to the above properties with time ;
– the determination of the parameters to be considered in the stability analysis of engineering works and of earth masses ; and
– the improvement and maintenance of the environmental condition and of the properties of the terrain.
Article III - AIMS OF THE ASSOCIATION
The aims of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment are :
– to promote and encourage the advancement of Engineering Geology through technological activities and research ;
– to improve teaching and training in Engineering Geology ; and
– to collect, evaluate and disseminate the results of engineering geological activities on a world wide basis by
– encouraging the formation of National Groups of Engineering Geology and their affiliation with the Association ;
– the organisation of Congresses, Symposia and other meetings ;
– the creation and operation of specialist commissions and other organisational units for the study of matters of interest to the Association ;
– the publication of the scientific and technical achievements of members of the IAEG in the IAEG's own periodical and relevant news in the IAEG newsletter ; and
– interacting with other scientific and technical associations as may be appropriate.
Article IV - MEMBERSHIP
A. Types of membership of IAEG
1. National Group Members
National Group Members of IAEG are associations, corporations, or societies which represent the interests of Engineering Geology in their countries or groups of countries (regional organisations). Members of National Groups apply for affiliation to the IAEG through their National Group.
2. Individual Members
Individuals interested in Engineering Geology whose affiliation to the IAEG is not through any National Group and who pay their fees directly to the Secretariat.
3. Associate Members (Supporting Members)
Institutions, organizations and companies interested in supporting the activities of the IAEG for the advancement of Engineering Geology.
4. Honourary Members
Members with exceptional services to the IAEG
Statutes adopted by IAEG Council in Kyoto [1992], modified by the Council in Athens [1997] (article I - Name of the Association) and in Rio de Janeiro [2000] (article IV - Membership, and Article IX - Meetings of the Association)
B. Admission and Resignation
A national organization representing the interests of Engineering Geology and willing to support the aims of the IAEG shall submit a written application to become a National Group of IAEG to the President of the Association through the Secretary General. The letter of application should be accompanied by documents outlining the nature of the organization, a copy of its statutes and a list of its officers. Preferably the letter should also be accompanied by a list of members willing to become members of IAEG.
Admission becomes effective after approval by the Executive Committee.
Applications of Individual and Associate Members (Supporting Members) should be made be writing directly to the Secretary General and their admission becomes effective after approval by the Executive Committee.
Information on admission of new members should be supplied to the Council by the Secretary General.
Resignation of members may be given in writing before July 1st to take effect from January 1st in the following year.
C. Dismissal of Membership
The dismissal of members, who act against the aims and interests of IAEG or whose dues have not been paid for three consecutive years, shall be decided by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast in Council.
Such matters will be submitted to the Council by the Secretary General.
Article V - LANGUAGES
The official languages of the IAEG are English and French. When conferences are held in countries where the national language is neither English nor French, conference proceedings may take place in the national language and in English and/or French. However, at International Congresses of the IAEG, proceedings will take place in both official languages and the national language when appropriate. Adequate simultaneous translation facilities should be available.
Publications resulting from the proceedings of official IAEG conferences, seminars, etc. are to be in either English or French.
Article VI - ADMINISTRATION
General Statement
The Association shall be governed and administered by a Council which is responsible for the regular conduct of the business of the Association in accordance with its Statutes and By Laws.
Council decides upon the working programme of the Association including the appointment of Commissions, the location and scope of Association and Association-sponsored meetings, approves the annual budget, authorizes major expenditures in addition to those shown in the annual budget and elects the members of the Executive Committee.
A General Meeting of Association members will be called on the occasion of the IAEG International Congress and the International Geological Congress.
The purpose of this meeting will enable the Executive Committee to report, directly to individual members of the Association, the major decisions of Council and the progress of activities within the Association.
The General Meeting may be called to vote on some matters, provided such request is presented by, at least, 25 % of the National Groups.
1. Composition
a) Council
The membership of the Council shall consist of :
– The President, the Vice-Presidents, the Secretary General and the Treasurer ;
– Past Presidents ; and
– a nominated representative of each National Group.
The Vice-Presidents are chosen from different geographic areas or regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America and South America. One Vice-President will be chosen from each designated region except that two will be chosen from Europe. Council may approve the addition of new vice-presidents or vice presidential regions as may be appropriate.
b) Executive Committee
The membership of the Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the Vice-Presidents, the Secretary General, the Treasurer and the Immediate Past President.
2. Meetings
a. The Council will meet once each year, generally at the time of the IAEG International Congress, an IAEG sponsored event (symposium, etc) or the International Geological Congress. The President will call an extraordinary meeting of Council if requested by a minimum of a quarter of the total membership of Council.
The Agenda of the Council meetings shall include :
i. reports from the President, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, the Regional Vice-Presidents, Chairmen of Commissions and Working Groups as well as from persons to whom special tasks have been entrusted by the Council or by the Executive Committee ;
ii. voting on amendments to Statutes and By Laws ;
iii. election of the Executive Committee, as appropriate ;
iv. determination of the places and dates of IAEG Congresses and Symposia ;
v. other.
Council will determine in the preceding meeting, and preferably a year in advance, the place and time of subsequent meeting of Council.
b. The Executive Committee will meet at least once per year usually in advance of the meeting of Council and always at the place and time of the IAEG International Congress, an IAEG sponsored event or the International Geological Congress. Additionally, the Executive Committee may meet at the call of the President.
The Executive Committee will decide on such matters as the award of honours and prizes and as otherwise authorized by the Statutes and By Laws. Such decisions will be conveyed to Council for its ratification.
On other matters the Executive Committee will make recommendations to Council for discussions and decisions to be made by Council.
On urgent matters, both the Executive Committee and/or the Council may be called to vote upon a particular matter. Voting may be by postal voting or through electronic mail (eg. telex, telefax, etc).
3. Voting
In meetings of the Executive Committee and of Council, authorized members of either body will have the right to vote on any matters under discussion.
Any member of the Executive Committee or of Council may appoint any other member to act as his/her proxy. No one person may hold more than three (3) proxy votes. The appointment of a proxy must be in writing (and should be provided to the Secretary General in advance).
Voting may be by show of hand (or through a secret ballot if called for by any two members of the Executive Committee or Council). Decisions of the Executive Committee or of Council will be carried by a simple majority of votes except for decisions on amendments to the Statutes and By Laws and on the affiliation or dissolution of the Association which must be decided by a majority of two thirds of the votes cast.
In the event of a tied vote, the President (or the Chairman of the meeting in the absence of the President) shall cast a tie-breaking vote.
The Quorum of the Executive Committee for the legal transaction of Association business shall be at least 4 persons, one of whom will be the President or the Secretary General.
The Quorum of Council for the legal transaction of Association business shall be at least a quarter of the members of Council including at least three members of the Executive Committee.
4. Election or Appointment to Council
a. Election of the Executive Committee
The election of members of the Executive Committee will take place on the occasion of the meeting of Council at an IAEG International Congress. Vacancies on the Executive Committee which may occur between International Congresses may be filled by an appointment by Council and be effective to the following International Congress.
The nomination of a person for any position on the Executive Committee shall be made in writing at least four (4) months in advance of a Council meeting. If more than one person is nominated for any one position, Council will vote, by secret ballot, to select one of the nominees for the position involved.
The term of office of members of the Executive Committee will be four years, effective on January 1st following the date of election. Members of the Executive Committee, except the Secretary General and the Treasurer, are not immediately eligible for reelection to the same office.
b. Selection of Representatives of National Groups
The representatives of National Groups and the term for which they serve will be determined by the respective National Groups in accordance with the Statutes, regulations and decisions on the particular National Group. National Groups will advise the Secretary General of the name and address of their representative as soon as possible after a new appointment.
Article VII - FINANCES
The financial year of the Association runs from January 1st to December 31 st.
The resources of the Association are :
i the annual dues of the members ;
ii gifts, legacies, grants, advertising, etc ;
iii income from the activities of the Association such as :
* receipts from meetings, courses, etc ; and
* the sale of publications.
Membership dues shall be determined by the Executive Committee on recommendation from the Treasurer. The Council shall approve any change in dues before any change can become effective. Membership dues are payable in advance on or before January 1st.
The funds of the Association are the responsability of the Treasurer and shall be deposited in a bank account or other fiscal instrument as may be approved by Council. The account (or bond, certificate, etc.) will be in the name of the Association. Signing authorities will be the Treasurer and the Secretary General, who, together, will have full control of the funds.
A statement of the current conditions of the accounts will be presented whenever the Executive Committee or Council holds a meeting or, at any other time, at the request of the President.
On one occasion each year, usually at a regular meeting of Council, the Treasurer will present a statement of accounts for the previous fiscal year. At the same occasion a budget for the following fiscal year will be presented for approval.
Article VIII - REPRESENTATION
The official representative of the IAEG is the President. In special circumstances, the President may select or delegate someone else to represent him on a particular occasion or at a particular event.
All contracts involving the IAEG must be signed by the President and the Secretary General.
Article IX - MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Meetings shall be organized or sponsored by the Association, in order to make public, the scientific and technological results of the science of Engineering Geology and its applications. These meetings are the international congresses of the IAEG, international symposia and regional conferences.
The IAEG shall hold an International Congress, in principle every four years, in a country with a National Group. The Organization of the Congress and the financial arrangements therefore will be undertaken by the National Group of the host country in agreement with and in consultation with the Executive Committee.
In addition, an international IAEG meeting shall be organized on the occasion of and in conjunction with the International Geological Congress (IGC), by the IAEG National Group of the host country.
National Groups shall be encouraged also to arrange meetings, under the auspices of the IAEG, dealing with specific engineering geological problems. Such meetings should be arranged preferably for those years in which neither IAEG nor IGC Congresses occur. These meetings could be either international symposia or regional conferences. Under special circumstances, symposia sponsored by or under the auspices of the IAEG can be held in a congress year provided there is no significant conflict of location, time and content of the proposed meeting with the IAEG or IGC Congress. Meetings of the Executive Committee and/or Council will be arranged where possible to coincide with scientific meetings.
All National Groups, organizing IAEG or IAEG sponsored meetings must ensure the right of participation of all members of IAEG, irrespective of their origin or nationality.
Article X - COMMISSIONS, WORKING GROUPS AND COMMITTEES
Commissions and working groups may be appointed to study, report and make recommendations on selected scientific, technical or administrative topics of importance for Engineering Geology or the IAEG.
The appointment of the Commissions will be made by the Council upon proposal by the Executive Committee or a National Group. The Chairman of a Commission will be selected by the Executive Committee.
A Commission shall endure for a period which shall be fixed at the time of its appointment, but limited to the term of office of the existing Executive Committee. The new (incoming) Executive Committee will review the activities of all Commissions, Working Groups and Committees and may extend the term of office of any pre-existing group.
Guidelines for the formation and operation of all Commissions, Working Groups and Committees are included in the By Laws.
Article XI - AWARDS AND PRIZES
The Association may determine to honour its members and other persons by the conferring thereon of an award or prize. Such honours shall be proceeded with according to the By Laws established, or which may be established, for each particular honour.
Article Xll - HONOURARY PRESIDENT
The appointment of a person of distinction as the Honourary President may be made in recognition of extraordinary and long term merits and for the prosperity and development of the Association.
This honour shall be restricted to very rare and outstanding cases. A proposal for the appointment of an Honourary President shall be made to the President who will submit such a proposal to the Council for approval.
Article XIII - BY LAWS
By Laws establishing guiding rules, procedures, rights and obligations shall be published in order to ensure the implementation of the principles defined in the Statutes.
Article XIV - AMENDMENTS TO STATUTES AND BY LAWS
The Statutes and the By Laws of the Association can be amended only by the Council.
Amendments may be proposed to the Council by the Executive Committee or by any National Group. Proposals must be submitted to the Secretariat at least six (6) months before the date of the next Council meeting to enable the Secretary General to notify the National Groups at least four (4) months prior to the date of the Council meeting at which the proposals are to be discussed and voted upon.
Amendments shall be ratified by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at the Council meeting.
Article XV - DISSOLUTION OF THE IAEG
The voluntary dissolution of the IAEG can only be decided by a two-thirds majority vote of the Council.
Article XVI - INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES
The Statutes are formulated in the official languages of the IAEG. The two versions, the English and the French ones, are authoritative.
Where any doubt arises as to the meaning of a Statute, the matter will be decided, after opportunity for a full discussion, by a vote of Council in accordance with the Statutes, Article Vl.3.
Article XVI - PREPARATION OF NEW BY LAWS
Upon the approval by the Association of the above Articles to form the new Statutes of the Association, the President shall forthwith require that appropriate By Laws, consistent with the new Statutes, be prepared and submitted to Council for approval at the earliest possible opportunity. Other By Laws will be prepared as required by new decisions of the Council.