Constitution and Bye-Laws

Preamble

The idea of establishing a Federation of Asian Scientific Academies and Societies was first mooted when delegates of the scientific academies and societies of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand met in New Delhi, India from 15 – 16 November 1983 for a workshop on “The Role of Scientific Societies and Academies in National Development”. The Workshop was organized by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) in association with the Committee on Science and Technology in Developing Countries (COSTED) of the International Council of Scientific Union (ICSU).

At the workshop, the delegates presented country reports describing the status of science and technology development in their countries. They also shared their experiences in tackling problems related to national development. The delegates recognized that many Asian countries faced the similar major problems such as education, energy, environment, health care and population control, scientific and technical manpower training, and resource development. It was therefore, felt that the national scientific bodies of the Asian countries should work together to overcome some of these common problems.

At a special session, the delegates discussed the formation of an organization, linking societies and academies of science and technology in Asia. The delegates were unanimously in favour of forming such an organization and a Consultative Committee was established to explore this proposal.

The Consultative Committee met on 15 January 1984 at New Delhi on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Indian National Science Academy. The Committee resolved unanimously to constitute a Federation of Asian Scientific Academies and Societies (FASAS) and proceeded to formulate the Constitution and elect the office bearers.

The Federation is a non-governmental scientific organization of the Asian region having twelve scientific academies and societies as its Founding Members. Memberships were later on extended to other national scientific academies and societies in the Asia Pacific region.

The principle objectives of FASAS are the advancement of science and technology, and the organization of national and regional programmes for the development of the Asian countries. The Federation also desires to maintain a close relationship with other regional and international governmental and non-governmental organizations in the furtherance of its objectives.

Until 1998, the Secretariat of the Federation was located at the Indian National Science Academy, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002, India. In 1999, it was moved to the Malaysian Scientific Association (MSA) at Room 1, Second Floor, Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, No 16, Jalan Utara, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

The FASAS Council at its Meeting held on 25 April 2002 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia decided to amend the Constitution and Bye-Laws to ensure that the operation, activities and programmes of the Federation are in line with the latest development of science and technology in the Asia Pacific region. A special Drafting Committee comprising delegates from Malaysia, Singapore, China and Australia was established to look into the amendments. The proposed amendments were tabled and discussed at the Council Meeting held in New Delhi on 24 October 2002. At a subsequent meeting on 3 January 2003 with Tan Sri Datuk Dr Omar Abdul Rahman and other members of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, some modifications to the objectives were proposed. The final version of the Constitution was approved at the Council Meeting held on 15 October 2003 at Beijing, China.

Constitution

1. Name

The name of the Society shall be the “Federation of Asian Scientific Academies and Societies” or, in short, FASAS.

2. Objectives and Areas of Focus

2.1 The Objectives

The Objectives of the Federation are as follows:

  • To promote the advancement of science and technology for development in Asia
  • To promote the integration of science and technology into national development planning and policy making processes
  • To promote greater awareness of the roles of science and technology in nation building among the general public, business, policy and decision makers
  • To enhance the contribution and impact of academies and societies in national and regional development
  • To collect, collate and disseminate scientific information relevant to the objectives of FASAS

3. Membership

The membership of the Federation shall consist of scientific academies and societies of the Asia Pacific region that are national and multidisciplinary. These are national members.

All other members that are approved by the Council are affiliated members.

The Members of the Foundation Council shall be known as Founding Members. The Founding Members of the Federation are as follows:

  • Academy of Science of Afghanistan (formerly known as Academy of Sciences of Democratic Republic of Afghanistan)
  • Bangladesh Academy of Sciences
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Indian National Science Academy
  • National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Korea
  • Malaysian Scientific Association
  • Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology
  • Pakistan Academy of Sciences
  • National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines
  • Singapore National Academy of Science
  • National Academy of Sciences, Sri Lanka
  • Science Society of Thailand

Memberships are open to all national and regional scientific organizations. The admission of members shall be regulated by the Bye-Laws.

4. The Council and Executive Council

4.1 The Council

The Council is the highest authority of the Federation and shall comprise the following:

Members of the Executive Council comprising the President, President – Elect, the Immediate Past President, Secretary General, Treasurer, Director of Projects and Editor of Publications; and one representative from each of the national and affiliated members.

Each member of the Federation, national as well as affiliated, shall be invited to nominate one representative to the Council six month before the Council Meeting

The Council Meeting is to be held at least once in three years, preferably in the second-half of the year.

The quorum of a Council Meeting shall be one-half of all members of the Council.

4.1.1 Functions of the Council

The Council shall have the following functions:

  • to adopt and approve the Minutes of the previous Council Meeting;
  • to elect the Executive Council who shall hold office the subsequent year for a period of three calendar years;
  • to accept and approve budget and programmes submitted by the Executive Council;
  • to accept and approve reports submitted by the Executive Council;
  • to appoint two honorary auditors from member academies/societies and also to rectify the auditors report submitted by Treasurer and approved by the Executive Council;
  • to decide the new membership of FASAS at the recommendations of the Executive Council;
  • to fix the annual subscription of member academies/societies;
  • to decide on the withdrawal and termination of membership;
  • to amend or modify the constitution and bye-laws; and
  • to decide on the dissolution of the Federation.
  • to consider any matters submitted by any member academy/society or the Executive Council

Any member academy/society may register up to three observers at the Council Meeting. These observers do not have voting rights.

4.2 The Executive Council

The Executive Council, except for the Immediate Past-President, the SecretaryGeneral and the Director of Projects shall be elected at a Council Meeting.

The Secretary-General and Director of Projects shall be appointed by the President in consultation with members of the Executive Council and shall have no voting rights.

The Executive Council shall hold the office for three calendar years, starting from the following year after the Council Meeting.

4.2.1 Members of the Executive Council

Members of the Executive Council are as follows:

The President who shall chair all meetings of the Federation. Generally, the President shall be responsible for the implementation of the policy of the Federation.

The President – Elect who shall become the President at the next Council Meeting. The President – Elect shall deputise for the President in his/her absence.

The Secretary-General who shall be responsible for all matters concerning the administration of the Federation. He/she shall prepare the annual and other reports to be circulated to members and tabled for approval at the meetings of the Executive Council and the Council Meeting. He/she shall also prepare the agendas for all meetings of the Federation.

The Treasurer who shall be responsible for all the finances of the Federation. He/she shall submit the annual audited statements of accounts to all members and to the Executive Council for approval.

The Director of Projects who shall coordinate all project activities supported by the Federation. He/she shall prepare an annual report for approval by the Executive Council.

The Editor of Publications who shall be responsible for all publications of the Federation. He/she shall submit an annual report to the Executive Council for approval.

The Immediate Past – President who is an ex-officio member of the Executive Council with voting rights.

4.2.2 Functions of the Executive Council

The Executive Council shall have the following functions:

  • administrate the FASAS Secretariat;
  • carry out decisions of the Council;
  • appoint delegates or representatives of the Federation;
  • appoint Committees entrusted with specific task within the general framework of the Federation;
  • accept and approve audited financial statements;
  • accept and approve annual and other reports;
  • admit new members of the Federation;
  • determine the date and venue of the Council Meeting and any other meetings;
  • administer the assets of the Federation; and
  • accept gifts, donations, grants and other contributions on behalf of the Federation

5. Administration

5.1 FASAS Secretariat

The Secretariat of the Federation shall be located at the member academy/society of the President.

The Secretariat shall have an Executive Secretary to be appointed by the President from his/her academy/society.

5.2 Administration

The administration of the Federation shall be effected through the Executive Council who shall meet at least once a year.

The quorum of the Meeting of the Executive Council shall be one third of the voting members present.

The President, in consultation with the members of the Executive Council, shall have the following powers:

  • carry out activities consistent with the objectives of the Federation;
  • carry out the decisions of the Executive Council; and
  • determine the date and venue of the Meeting of the Executive Council

6. Annual Subscription

The payment of annual subscription by Members shall be regulated by the bye-laws.

Under very special circumstances, members may apply to the Council for waiver of annual subscription

7. Bye-Laws

Bye-Laws are formulated by the Executive Council to ensure the smooth operation of the Federation.

The Executive Council shall have the rights to make amendments to the bye-laws.


Bye-laws

1. Membership and Annual Subscription

1.1 Membership

Membership of the Federation is open to those national and regional scientific organizations in the Asia Pacific region who share the same objectives with the Federation.

Applications for National or Affiliated Membership must be submitted to the Secretary General of the Federation and be accompanied by certified photocopies of the constitution and bye-laws and such other additional documents as the Executive Council may require.

Admission to membership of the Federation shall be based on unanimous agreement by the Executive Council on the proposal of any Member in good standing.

The fiscal year shall be the calendar year.

1.2 Annual Subscription

The annual subscription of the Federation shall be at the following rates:

  • USD 3,000
  • USD 1,000
  • USD 500
  • USD 250

Members are encouraged to pay as close to the maximum rate as possible.

Membership subscription shall be due on the 1 January of each year.

In the event of non-payment of the subscription for a period exceeding three years, the Council may, at its discretion, act to suspend or terminate the membership of a member.

2. The Council and Executive Council

Six months before the Council Meeting, the Secretary General shall invite Member academies/societies to nominate their representatives to the Council.

The election of the Members of the Executive Council shall be held at the Council Meeting to be held once in three years.

In the event of a vacancy occurring in the Executive Council during the time inbetween Council Meetings, the Executive Council may appoint any member from the Council to fill the vacancy.

3. The Secretariat

The Secretariat shall function under the directions of the President and the Secretary General.

The Executive Secretary shall be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Secretariat.

The Secretariat shall issue all circulars, notices of meetings, publications, annual subscription, invoices and other documents of the Federation to the Members.

4. Financial Statements, Auditors and Assets

The Treasurer shall prepare the annual Financial Statements on the accounts of the Federation for auditing by the auditors.

Two honorary auditors shall be elected from the member academy/society for internal audit of the accounts of the Federation.

The audited statements of accounts are then presented to the Executive Council for approval and adoption.

The finances and assets of the Federation consist of the following:

  • subscription paid by the member academies/societies;
  • gifts, donations and grants received by the Federation from public or private bodies or trusts;
  • any other resources which it may derive from its own activities or invested on its behalf.

Funds derived from donations accepted by the Federation shall be used in accordance with the agreement with the donors, but no donation shall be accepted upon conditions that are inconsistent with the objectives of the Federation.

The Treasurer, together with the President or Secretary General are empowered to operate the accounts and all financial transactions and assets of the Federation.

5. Sponsorship of Projects

In order to encourage more activities of the Federation, FASAS shall sponsor projects initiated by member academy/society based on the following:

  • The Project could be in the form of training programmes, short courses, workshops, conferences, symposia, scientific expeditions or any other scientific activities including policy studies.
  • The Project is to be proposed and organized by a member academy/society; but it must involve at least three member academies/societies of the Federation.
  • FASAS shall provide financial support of up to a maximum of USD 1,000 per project and the Federation will support a maximum of five projects each year.

Each member academy/society can only have one project supported by the Federation each year.

Project proposals must be submitted to the Director of Projects for consideration by the Executive Council in the preceding year of the project.

On the completion of the project, a written report must be submitted to the Executive Council.

6. Amendments to the Constitution, Bye Laws and Dissolution

No amendments may be made to the Constitution except with the approval of the Council by two-thirds of all members present.

Any proposed amendments to the Bye-Laws may be made by the simple majority of the Executive Council.

The decision to dissolve the Federation or to merge the Federation with any other body may only be made with a unanimous decision of the Council at a formally summoned meeting called specifically for the occasion.

In the event of the Federation being dissolved, the assets remaining after discharge of all debts, shall be transferred to such body or bodies having objectives similar to those of the Federation, as determined by the last Council.

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