Overview

ICSU has two categories of full Members:

• National Members
• International Scientific Unions

Of the 119 National Scientific Members 96 are full National Scientific Members, 8 are National Scientific Associates and 15 National Scientific Observers. National Scientific Associates are potentially qualified, but not yet ready, for full membership and National Scientific Observers are those Members which have failed to fulfil their financial obligations.

A National Scientific Member adheres to the Council either through its principal scientific academy, or its national research council, or any other institution or association of institutions effectively representing the range of scientific activities in a definite territory and which has been in existence for at least four years. National Scientific Associates and National Scientific Observers have no vote.

The Scientific Unions are international, non-governmental, professional organizations devoted to the promotion of activities in a particular area of science which have been in existence for at least six years.

• Scientific Associates

There are 21 Scientific Associates, which are organizations in fields cognate to those of ICSU, whose scientific activities do not fall primarily within the scope of a single Scientific Union Member and which have been in existence for at least six years. Scientific Associates have no vote.