History of the AARA
The
founding of regional aerosol associations and the AARA (Asian
Aerosol Research Assembly)
was motivated by growing interests in aerosol science and technology in
Asian region. Following JAAST (Japan Association of Aerosol Science and
Technology) and IASTA (Indian Aerosol Science and Technology Association,
new aerosol associations such as TAAR (Taiwan Association for Aerosol
Research) and KAPAR (Korean association for particle and aerosol research)
were founded in 1992 and 1994, respectively, after being encouraged by
Professor David Y. H. Pui of University of Minnesota. In 1998 in the
domestic JAAST (Japan Association of Aerosol Science and Technology)
meeting, Professors Hitoshi Emi and
Yasuo
Kousaka from Japan, Professors Chiu-sen Wang and
Chuen-Jinn Tsai from Taiwan, and Professors Kyoo-Won Lee and Sang-Soo Kim
from Korea discussed about the idea of promoting aerosol science and
technology in Asia by holding the Asian Aerosol Conference (AAC) every two
years. Nagoya was decided to be the city for hosting the 1st
AAC in 1999 when the AARA was officially established with the above four
founding member associations. Later, Professor Kyoo-Won Lee was elected as
the first AARA president and Pusan was decided to be the city for hosting
the 2nd AAC in 2001 when the constitution of the AARA was
drafted and finalized.
Now there
are 7 member associations in the AARA after having been expanded to
include TPTC (Thai Powder Technology Center), CSP (Chinese Society of
Particuology), and CASANE (Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand).
The main function of the AARA is to promote the advancement of aerosol
science within countries in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and
eventually in all other South-Eastern Asian countries as well. The AARA
organizes a high quality AAC biennially focusing on the fundamental
research and application of aerosol science, industrial applications, air
quality and climate change. There will also be presentations for the Asian
Young Aerosol Scientist Award to
recognize outstanding contributions by young aerosol scientists in
Asian Countries,
and Asian Aerosol Fellows to honor
senior scientists with outstanding service to the AARA and significant
contributions to the field aerosol science and technology.
1 Formation
1.1
The Representative Independent Scientific Organisations, concerned with
aerosol science, from Asian countries form this Assembly to promote
collaboration in the field of aerosol research.
2 Name
2.1
The name of the organisation is the Asian Aerosol Research Assembly
commonly referred to as AARA.
3 Objectives
3.1
To provide an international forum among Asian countries for the planning
and organisation of the continuing series of the Asian Aerosol
Conferences.
3.2
To award prizes and marks of recognition for exceptional performance in
the field of aerosol research.
4 Membership
4.1
Membership of the Assembly is open to Representative Organisations
of Asian countries that fulfil all the requirements listed under the
heading "Addition of Members".
4.2
Each Representative Organisation will provide, and keep updated, a point
of contact with whom the officers of AARA and other members may
correspond.
5
Representation
5.1
Each Representative Organisation has the right to send two voting
delegates to every meeting. The choice of delegates is the responsibility
of the Organisation and delegates may be changed at any time.
6
Officers
of
the
assembly,
their
terms
and
duties
6.1
The officers shall be a President, a Vice-president, and a Secretary. The
officers do not have to bedelegates to the Assembly.
6.2
The term of office shall begin at the first assembly meeting held in
conjunction with an Asian Aerosol Conference and shall extend until the
first Assembly meeting held in conjunction with the next AsianAerosol
Conference. However, no officer's term shall end before his or her
successor has been elected.
6.3
The President shall preside at meetings of the Assembly, co-ordinate its
activities, issue (through the Secretary) the call for meetings, advise
and support the Vice-President in matters concerning the next Asian
Aerosol Conference and represent the Assembly in its relationship with
other organisations. He or she is empowered to establish such committees
as may be necessary to the conduct of the business of the Assembly.
6.4
The Vice-President shall represent the Assembly in its relationship with
the host country in the organisation of the
upcoming Asian Conference. Whenever possible he or she shall be a member
of the organisation hosting the conference. He or she will preside at
Assembly meetings in the absence of the President. The Vice-President
shall normally become President for the next term of office.
6.5
The Secretary shall be responsible for the permanent records of the
Assembly. At the request of the President he or she shall issue the call
for meetings and shall, in consultation with the other officers prepare
the meeting agenda. He or she shall be responsible for keeping the minutes
of the meetings and for conducting any formal votings by the Assembly
between meetings. He or she shall keep the official list of Delegates and
of the Representative Organisations entitled to Delegations, together with
appropriate contact details of the Organisations. The Secretary shall set
up and maintain a bank account to handle allfunds for which the Assembly
is responsible. He or she shall arrange for the acceptance and banking of
all funds and shall arrange payment of expenses and other disbursements
specifically authorised by the Assembly. The Secretary is normally
selected as a person who can work closely with the President.
6.6
In the event of the resignation, incapacity or death of an Officer during
his or her term, the remaining Officers shall name an appropriate
qualified person to serve in the vacant office until the next meeting of
the Assembly. Such a decision must be made within no more than one year
from the vacancy occurring.
7 Delegates
7.1
The appointment of Delegates is the sole responsibility of the
Organisation for which they are the representatives. Their period of
office runs from the time that the Representative Organisation informs the
Secretary of the Assembly of their names and contact details and continues
until a replacement representative is named.
8
The Asian aerosol
conference
8.1
The Assembly shall ensure that an Asian Aerosol Conference is arranged
every two years unless special circumstances determine otherwise.
8.2
The Assembly shall invite applications from the Representative
Organisations to host the conference and shall select the Host
Organisation and venue at least two years before it is due to be held.
8.3
Representative Organisations bidding to host the Asian Conference shall
prepare a proposal covering all substantial aspects of the conduct of the
Conference and send the application to the President.
8.4
It is the responsibility of the Host Organisation to ensure that that the
selection of papers for presentation at the Conference is based primarily
on scientific merit but that, within that constraint, the conference
provides the opportunity for all aspects of Aerosol Science to be
addressed.
8.5
The official language of the Asian Aerosol Conference shall be
English. All abstracts and papers published or printed in conjunction
with the Conference shall be in English although abstracts in other
languages are acceptable if accompanied by an English translation.
8.6
Participation in the Asian Conference must be open to all those who wish
to attend.
9
Addition
of
members
9.1
Those Asian countries with societies and institutions which, for a
substantial period of time, have been making major written contributions
to the scientific literature in the field of aerosol research, are
encouraged to form Representative Organisations. Such Representative
Organisations will be considered for membership upon submission of a
written application to the President of the Assembly. To be eligible for
voting membership a Representative Organisation must:
9.2
Be an independent scientific society committed to the support of research
in the field of aerosol science.
9.3
Have held at least one meeting a year for the last three years.
9.4
Have a current membership of at least 30 members.
9.5
The Representative Organisation may be a national organisation or, if
several countries wish to group together to meet the membership
requirements, a regional or multi-national organisation.
9.6
The written application for membership shall clearly identify the
Representative Organisation as to its name, its official address, any
other societies and institutions it represents, the kind and number of its
members, and the name of its chief executive officer. If possible the
name(s) of the person(s) who will form the first delegation should be
included. There may also be furnished such supporting evidence of its
qualifications as a Representative Organisation as those preparing the
application deem to be appropriate. The applicant shall supply any
additional information requested by the Assembly.
9.7
Upon receipt of an adequate written application for membership, the
President shall circulate the application to delegates and place it on the
agenda for the next meeting. At that meeting the Assembly may vote
immediately on the application or may appoint a review committee to report
to the next meeting with a recommendation on the application.
10 Meetings
10.1
The Assembly shall meet whenever called by the President or by the joint
decision of the Vice-President and the Secretary.
10.2
A quorum to transact business at an Assembly meeting shall consist of at
least one Delegate from two thirds of the Representative Organisations.
10.3
Decisions should be valid only when more than half of valid votes are
received.
10.4
Each Delegation shall have two votes in any actions of the Assembly. When
the Delegation consists of two Delegates each shall have one vote. For
meetings, a Representative Organisation may give written authorisation to
an attending Delegate to cast a proxy vote for the absent Delegate.
10.5
If the President deems it desirable he or she may conduct formal Assembly
business by mail, including actions on motions and resolutions, with the
exception of voting on new members or changes to the Constitution.
11 Finaces
11.1
The primary means of providing finance for Assembly expenses is from
awards made from the profits generated by the Asian Aerosol
Conference. The amount of the award shall be agreed with the Host
Organisation so that it can be included in the budget for the Conference.
11.2
The Assembly may request Representative Organisations to contribute funds
to support specific initiatives or awards but may not require them to do
so.
11.3
The Assembly shall not accept any financial responsibility for
the Asian Aerosol Conference. This is to be entirely the responsibility of
the Host Organisation.
11.4
The Assembly may use the funds it receives to pay expenses associated with
the administration of the Assembly. It may also use them to finance awards
and prizes, which have been agreed by the Assembly and budgeted for.
11.5
The Secretary shall present a financial report to each scheduled meeting
of the Assembly.
12
Awards
and
prizes
12.1
The Assembly may agree to award recognition for achievements, in the field
of aerosol science, in the name of the Assembly. These may be once-only,
occasional or at a regular time interval. Whatever the type of award, an
Award Committee shall be set up which will, in the first instance, submit
the proposed rules for the Award to the Assembly for approval.
12.2
The Awards Committee shall issue a call for nominations from
Representative Organisations at least six months prior to the date at
which the Award is to be made. They shall then select the recipient(s)
according to the agreed rules. The name(s) shall then be submitted to the
President for endorsement.
12.3
The Secretary should prepare the Award that may have a monetary prize
associated. Where Representative Organisations are providing financial
support to the Award, the budget must be endorsed by all the contributors.
13
Amendment
to
the
constitution
13.1
Notice of any proposed amendment or revision of the constitution must be
made to Delegates at least onemonth before the meeting at which they are
to be tabled.
13.2
Changes to the constitution, approved by the Assembly, will become
effective when, and only when, ratified by two-thirds of the
Representative National Organisations.
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