International Union of Pure and Applied Physics IUPAP

an organization that creates and promotes international cooperation among physics research centers of various countries; coordinates physics research in the various countries, the publication of scientific papers, and physics education; and supervises the maintenance of standards and units of measurement.

IUPAP was founded in 1922. Its membership comprises (1972) scientific institutions from 39 countries, including the Division of General Physics and Astronomy of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (since 1958). A national committee of physicists has been established in each member-country. The chairman of the National Committee of Physicists in the USSR is Academician A. M. Prokhorov (since 1973). The supreme organ of IUPAP is the general assembly, which is convened once every three years. Between assemblies, leadership is exercised by the executive committee, which includes the president, the past president, the first vice-president, several other vice-presidents (eight in 1973), and the secretary general and his assistant.

The IUPAP is financed by the membership dues of the member-countries and a yearly contribution from UNESCO. The major scientific activities of IUPAP are carried out by commissions on separate branches of physics. IUPAP is a member of the International Council of Scientific Unions.