Principles of Operation of the All-Ukrainian Association for European Values in Science

Strategic Goals and Objectives

1. The main strategic goal of the All-Ukrainian Association for European Values in Science (UAES) is to foster the development of basic science in Ukraine, and to help shape those policies of the state that concern basic science and education in such a way that these policies are in a better agreement with current European principles and values.

2. UAES stands for such values as an open civic society; independent democratic Ukrainian state based on the rule of law; accelerated movement toward joining the European Union; and European standards in planning, execution, and evaluation of all activities in basic science and education.

3. The principle objectives of UAES are as follows:

· To help reform Ukrainian science and education, making them better fitting the highest world standards;

· To assist Ukrainian scientists so that they could more actively and productively participate in European scientific programs, thus being a part of the global progress in science and education;

· To protect common scientific interests as well as labor and social rights of its members;

· To counteract pseudo-science and to help spread accurate scientific knowledge in communities.

Membership

4. UAES includes members and honorary members. Neither membership nor honorary membership in UAES depends on scientific degrees and academic appointments. UAES members are entitled to vote on all UAES decisions; honorary members do not vote but are entitled to advice.

5. One becomes an UAES member when one approves of the UAES goals and objectives as well as of its principles of operation. To become a member, one must show a contribution into the global scientific process in the form of peer-reviewed scientific publications. Membership is conferred to individuals upon their personal applications.

6. Contribution into the global scientific process must be documented by:

· For those who work in natural sciences, technological disciplines or mathematics - at least three articles published within the last 10 years, or at least five articles published within the last 15 years in journals included into the ISI list (see www.isinet.com);

· For those who work in social science and humanities – at least one article published within the last 10 years, or at least two articles published within the last 15 years in journals that publish works in social sciences and humanities and are based in countries of the European Union, North America, or Japan;

· For all categories of members, as an alternative - at least the total of five articles published within the last 10 years in journals of the ISI list as well as in proceedings (not abstracts!) of International or European congresses, conferences, and symposiums, as well as in books that publish peer-reviewed results of groups of scientists;

· For all categories of members as yet another alternative - one monograph published by a leading international publisher within the last 10 years.

7. On occasion, scholars who have a significant and peer-recognized list of achievements related to the history of Ukraine and its culture can become UAES members, if they have at least one monograph published by any recognized scientific publisher. The decision about acceptance of these individuals as members must be made through majority vote at a session of the UAES Coordinating Board.

8. Scientists who are 30 years old or younger can be accepted as UAES members if they have at least one publication that fits the requirements listed in paragraph 6. It is anticipated that these requirements will be fully met within the next five years upon admittance.

9. Scientists who meet the above requirements and who were present during the Foundational Convention of UAES, who have supported the chartering of UAES and its Principles of Operation, automatically become members of UAES and reserve the right to be called UAES Charter Members.

10. To be an Honorary Member of UAES, one must share the association’s strategic goals and objectives, and provide to the association a financial, logistical, informational or other support. The lack of such support during two consecutive years confers an automatic loss of the Honorary Member’s status. The decision about acceptance of an individual as Honorary Member must be made through a qualified majority vote at a session of the UAES Coordinating Board.

11. Every two years, members of UAES are required to submit, in an electronic form, the list of their publications that demonstrates their being in compliance with paragraph 6, and a short summary describing their activities as UAES members. Together with lists of names of UAES members and Honorary Members, this information will be, with members’ permission, posted on the UAES Web site.

12. Every UAES member is entitled to receive legal protection, assisted by the association, in cases of unsubstantiated layoff or discrimination.

13. UAES members and Honorary Members must pay their dues. The size and frequency of these payments are to be determined by a special document approved at the Annual Convention of UAES.

14. UAES members who are Nobel Prize winners and Abel Prize winners are exempt from paying their dues.

15. Failure to pay dues for a period of two consecutive years, or failure to comply with requirements stated in paragraph 6, automatically leads to loss of the status of UAES member.

16. UAES members must be Ukrainian citizens.

UAES Governing Bodies

17. The chief executive organ of UAES is its General Convention, held annually (as a rule, at the beginning of each calendar year). All UAES members are to be notified about the Convention in advance.

18. In the interim, the UAES governing body is its Coordinating Board, which must meet at least once in two months (except for the period of summer vacations, July-August). The meeting of the Coordinating Board is to be summoned and presided by the Head of UAES, and is considered legally in session when there is a quorum of at least two-third of the membership of the Board.

19. The Coordinating Board reserves the right to summon an extraordinary Convention and to notify all of the UAES members about this event no later than two weeks before its planned date.

20. Members of the Coordinating Board are elected through rating-based vote during each Annual Convention of UAES.

21. The newly elected Coordinating Board at its first meeting elects the Head of UAES, the Deputy Head, and the Executive Clerk. All these executives work on a strictly voluntary basis.

22. The Head of UAES is to be elected for only one year, and cannot be re-elected for more than three consecutive annual terms. The roll of the Coordinating Board must be renewed every year, at least partially (as a rule, one-fourth of it must be new members).

23. In the event that the Head of UAES is absent for a significant time (for two months or longer), or in the vent of the Head’s resignation, his or her executive powers are to be automatically assumed by the Deputy Head.

24. All motions of the UAES Annual Convention carry if they are voted for by a simple majority of those who are present. All motions of the Coordinating Board carry if they are voted for by a simple majority of the Board members.

25. The Annual Convention of UAES determines the scope of work and approves the annual work plan of the Coordinating Board. The Head of UAES, on behalf of its Coordinating Board, reports about the fulfillment of this plan during the next annual Convention.

26. The Head of UAES, or, in the event of his/her absence, the Deputy Head, represents the association in its transactions with the Ukrainian government (including the central government and regional branches), as well as with political, civic, charity, and grassroots organizations in Ukraine and abroad.

UAES Structure

27. UAES includes local organizations, which can be created within research centers, universities, and other institutions.

28. Should there be three local UAES organizations in a city, a Section of UAES of this city can be established.

29. Local organizations and city sections of UAES determine their own direction of work independently; however, these directions should not contradict the principles of UAES operation as stated above.

30. A more detailed structure of the Association will be elaborated when a sufficient number of local organizations and city sections are created.

Legal Status

31. UAES is a civic organization that has a legal status of the all-Ukrainian scale. It does not have legal rights of a judicial person, and it does not have its bank accounts.

32. UAES can cease to function only if it is reorganized toward acquisition of a judicial person status with an open bank account, or if it is liquidated. In both cases, the appropriate decision must be made by the Coordinating Board and approved by the immediately upcoming UAES Convention.

33. These Principles can be altered or amended only during an UAES Convention. Any decision about these changes or amendments must be approved by a qualified majority vote (2/3 of those present at the Convention).

Approved at the Foundational Convention of UAES, Kyiv, February 3, 2006

Amended at the Annual Convention of UAES, February 2, 2007