IAG

International Association of Geomorphologists
Newsletter no. 20 (2/2003)

IAG Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
Modena (Italy), 11-12 April 2003

Members present: M. Panizza (President), A. Goudie (Vice-President), D. Lóczy (Secretary), A. Ozer (Treasurer), I. Alcántara-Ayala, M.T. Benazzouz, M. Gutiérrez-Elorza, V.C. Jha, E.M. Latrubesse, A. Pérez-González, M. Soldati, Z. Zwolinski. Apologies for absence: C. Harden, J. Lugo-Hubp.
  1. News from the President (M. Panizza)
    • Duties of new Coopted Members. I. Alcántara -Ayala (Mexico): organisation for the Regional Geomorphological Conference in Mexico City; M. Gutiérrez-Elorza (Spain): organisation for the 6th International Geomorphological Conference in Zaragoza; C. Harden (USA): duties of the Publication Officer.
    • Matters arising from the Brussels administrative meeting: minutes can be read on the IAG web site.
    • Tony Parsons' proposal: new structure for commissions in Physical Geography. It is agreed that an informal committee with representation from IGU and IAG is needed.
    • 40th edition of the Yearbook of International Organizations: updating of IAG entry.
    • Geomorphological Map of Asia: Zh.-M. Chen (China) asks for assistance to publish it at 1:8,000,000 scale. V.C. Jha is asked to collect more detailed information.
    • IAG Constitution: M. Panizza forwarded English and French versions to the Presidents of IGU and IUGS.
    • International Year of Planet Earth: a IUGS/UNESCO joint initiative to demonstrate the fundamental contribution made by Earth Science to knowledge of the Earth and to formulate strategies for a safer planet in the future. M. Panizza represented the IAG at a meeting in Paris, 30-31 January 2003.
    • IAG VIII Italian-Romanian Workshop on Geomorphology: "Geomorphological sensitivity and system response" (Camerino, Modena Apennines, Italy, 4-9 July 2003).
    • 8th International Conference on Permafrost: Zurich, 21-25 July 2003.
    • Research proposal to ICSU: I. Stewart (Univ. Glasgow) submitted a grant application to ICSU under the heading of "Dark Nature - Rapid natural change and human responses" with support of IAG.
  2. News from EC Members
    • Conference of the Carpatho-Balkanic Geomorphological Commission: Bratislava, 9-12 September 2003.
    • IAG report to IUGS: prepared and sent.
    • Global Commission on Paleohydrology (GLOCOPH): field conference in the Amazon area, 12-18 June 2003.
  3. Publication activity
    1. New Publication Officer
      As indicated in the minutes of the Brussels administrative meeting, J. Lugo-Hubp resigned as Publication Officer. At the request of the IAG EC, C. Harden accepted this position.
    2. Encyclopaedia and books
      The manuscript of the IAG Encyclopaedia of Geomorphology is with the publisher (Routledge) as scheduled. Publication is expected at the end of the year. For other books see the website.
    3. Proceedings of conferences and workshops
      The IAG supported publication of papers of the Dornbirn IAG Conference and the proceedings of the Workshop of the Working Group on Geomorphologial Sites. The proceedings of the IAG International Symposium in Addis Ababa are published by the University of Rome.
    4. Newsletter
      Two issues of Newsletter no. 19 were prepared: 3/2002 and 4/2002. M. Soldati surveyed the publishing situation and advised the EC of gaps in newsletter publication. A new philosophy is adopted concerning the newsletter: more reports of activities to be included at the expense of announcements of events. Minutes of EC meetings in abbreviated form and calls for applications for grants will be published in forthcoming newsletters. Conferences are to be announced mainly through the web site.
  4. IAG web site
    Links should be expanded on the web site. A picture gallery of geomorphological images (landforms) is proposed. M. Panizza proposes to include summaries of the Working Group Reports. A. Pérez-González is charged to prepare and send these summaries to Z. Zwolinski.
  5. Jan De Ploey Library
    J. Poesen reserved space for the De Ploey Library in Leuwen. A. Ozer established the Library in Vietnam and Gabon offering books. A. Ozer is asked to write to all National Delegates to explain the objectives of the De Ploey Library and require single copies of books to be sent to Leuwen.
  6. Memberships
    Some progress was made in recruiting new IAG members. Membership is presently at 53. National Delegates are identified for Albania, Egypt, and the South Pacific. M. Panizza encourages regional representatives (M. Benazzouz, V. Jha and E. Latrubesse) to recruit new members from each continent by the Mexico Regional Conference.
  7. Financial situation
    The income of the IAG shows a positive balance with expenditures in 2002. Annual report for 2002 is received from Madagascar. Royalties received from John Wiley Publishers. Grants to young geomorphologists paid for IAG intensive courses in Dornbirn, Ethiopia and the BGRG Course in Windsor. Five Working Groups received annual grants and will receive the next installment after sending their annual administrative, scientific and financial reports. At the next international conference, only representatives of countries with fees paid will be allowed to vote.
  8. Working Groups
    Annual reports have been received from all the Working Groups. A Pérez-González will contact National Delegates to attract geomorphologists to be active in Working Groups. Reports of the Working Groups will also be published on the web.
  9. Training activities
    • Training activities supported by the IAG during 2002:
      • UNESCO Summer School (Dornbirn, Austria, 7-14 July 2002);
      • CERG Intensive Course (Dornbirn, Austria, 14-21 July 2002);
      • IAG Symposium on the "Relationships between man and mountain environment in terms of geomorphological hazards and human impact in Europe" (Dornbirn, Austria,14 July 2002);
      • IAG Symposium "Climate change, active tectonics and related geomorphic effects in high mountain belts and plateaux," Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (9-10 December 2002);
      • BGRG Research Design Short Course, Windsor (9-12 December 2002).
    • Training courses to be supported by the IAG during 2003:
      • Postgraduate field course "Geomorphology and Quaternary geology of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina" (15-30 March, 2003).
      • Geomorphological training and mapping course in Vorarlberg, Austria (Summer 2003). IAG intensive course within the Regional Conference on Geomorphology in Mexico City "Geomorphic hazards: towards the prevention of disasters" (postponed to 28 October, 2003).
      • BGRG Research Design Short Course, Windsor (December 2003); two grants for PhD students in geomorphology from Eastern Europe will be offered.
    • Training courses to be supported by the IAG during 2004:
      • Postgraduate field course "Geomorphology and Quaternary geology of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina" (Spring 2004); two grants for young geomorphologists from developing countries.
      • Intensive course "Geomorphology and engineering geology applied to landslide risk mitigation" within the International Geological Congress in Florence (August 2004). Grants to be decided at the next EC meeting.
      • Short Course "Global change, natural processes and sustainability - strategies and tools for managing environmental risks" (Santander, Spain, Summer 2004). Grants to be decided at the next EC meeting.
    • Training courses to be supported by the IAG during 2005:
      • Intensive course on "Geomorphology applied to soils and landslides" within the International Conference on Geomorphology (Zaragoza, Spain, September 2005). Grants to be decided at the next EC meeting.
  10. Grants awarded to young geomorphologists
    Four grants for the UNESCO and CERG Summer Schools in Dornbirn; two grants for the IAG Symposium in Addis Ababa, and two grants for the BGRG short course in Windsor.
  11. Mexico Regional Conference, 2003
    Details are available on the website: http://www.smg.igeograf.unam.mx/. They received 19 applications for grants. IAG is asked to provide three grants for the intensive course; the organisers offer additional grants.. Grants are maximised at EUR 1000 each. Publication of proceedings is planned in international journals and a book on natural hazards is envisaged.
  12. Regional Conference in India
    Darjeeling, 27 February - 6 March 2004. Details are available on the IAG website. Two grants are offered to young geomorphologists outside India, EUR 800 each. V.C. Jha is asked to coordinate further organising activities.
  13. IGU International Congress, Glasgow, 2004
    For details visit www.bgrg.org.
  14. IUGS International Conference, Florence, 2004
    For details visit: www.32igc.org.
  15. IAG International Conference, Zaragoza, 7-11 September 2005
    1st circular was sent to 5600 people. Organization of the Zaragoza Conference and IAG grants for young geomorphologists will be further discussed in Mexico City. European Commission and UNESCO sponsorship could be also possible.
  16. Next EC meetings
    The next IAG EC meeting will be in Mexico City, on 26 October (Sunday), 2003. An administrative meeting is envisaged in Zaragoza on 26-27 March 2004; an informal EC meeting is planned during the Florence IUGS Conference (August, 2004) and a formal EC meeting will take place in Liege on Spring 2005.
  17. Other matters
    • Conferences in Argentina: 2nd National Congress on Quaternary and Geomorphology (22-24 September 2003) and XVI Argentinian Geological Congress (September 2005).
    • M. Panizza proposes that the IAG becomes a member of the International Consortium of Landslides (ICL). The objectives and activities are to promote landslide research, integrate geoscience and technology, combine and coordinate international expertise in landslide risk assessment and mitigation studies, and promote a global, multidisciplinary programme on landslides. The advantages for IAG could be being involved in multidisciplinary programmes on landslides with focus on developing countries; applying for funds for geomorphological research on landslides; participating in the activity of the Consortium; and receiving and collaborating with the new journal "Landslides." The EC approved reduced fee membership subscription.
    • It has been proposed and approved that distinguished persons in IAG (in limited numbers) and honorary fellows should be awarded a plate in silver or in bronze on important occasions.

Modena-Pécs, 26 June 2003

Mario Panizza Dénes Lóczy
President Secretary

Meetings with IAG sponsorship

Award to Antonio Cendrero Uceda

On 28 March 2003, at the University of Cantabria, M. Panizza represented the IAG at the academic session dedicated to A. Cendrero Uceda, who became member of the Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas of Spain. The IAG acknowledged the merits in Geomorphology of Prof. Cendrero with a silver plate.

Editor's Note

The success of the IAG Newsletter depends upon the contributions we receive. Please assist by sending commentaries, reviews of regional or national meetings and field trips, summaries of issues pertinent to geomorphology, and announcements of future meetings and workshops. Your contributions should be forwarded to the IAG Publication Officer, Carol Harden (charden@utk.edu).

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEOMORPHOLOGISTS
President
Mario PANIZZA
Dip. Scienze Terra
Universita di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Largo S. Eufemia, 19
I-41100 Modena, ITALY
Ph.: +39 059 2055840
Fax: +39 059 2055887
E-mail 		Vice President
Andrew GOUDIE
School Geography & Environ.
University of Oxford
Mansfield Road
Oxford OX1 3TB, UNITED KINGDOM
Ph.: +44 1865 271921
Fax: +44 1865 271940
E-mail 		Secretary
Dénes LOCZY
Dep. Physical Geography
University of Pécs
Ifúság útja 6
H-7624 Pécs, HUNGARY
Ph.: +36 72 327 622 e4482
Fax: +36 72 327 622 e4480
E-mail
IAG Account number:068-2376668-01 IAG - DEXIA Banque
Av. Centenaire, 42 - B-4102 Ougree, Belgium
Account IBAN: BE 43-0682-3766-6801
SWIFT: GKCCBEBB
Visit the IAG Web Site at: www.geomorph.org

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