COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR)

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PURPOSE

COSPAR's objectives are to promote on an international level scientific research in space, with emphasis on the exchange of results, information and opinions, and to provide a forum, open to all scientists, for the discussion of problems that may affect scientific space research. These objectives are achieved through the organization of Scientific Assemblies, publications and other means.

ROLE

In its first years of existence COSPAR, as an entity that ignores political considerations and views all questions solely from the scientific standpoint, played an important role as an open bridge between East and West for cooperation in space. When this role became less prominent with the decline in rivalry between the two blocs, COSPAR, as an interdisciplinary scientific organization, focused its objectives on the progress of all kinds of research carried out with the use of space means (including balloons).

COSPAR acts mainly:

• as a body responsible for organizing biennial Scientific Assemblies, with strong contributions from most countries engaged in space research. These meetings allow the presentation of the latest scientific results, the exchange of knowledge and also the discussion of space research problems. Over several decades providing this service has brought recognition to the COSPAR Scientific Assembly as the premier forum for presenting the most important results in space research in all disciplines and as the focal point for truly international space science. In this regard it should be observed that COSPAR has played a central role in the development of new space disciplines such as life sciences or fundamental physics, by facilitating the interaction between scientists in emergent space fields and senior space researchers,
• as an entity which, in addition to providing a meeting ground for scientists involved in fundamental research, also publishes a journal to disseminate scientific results,
• as a body organizing, on a regional scale, scientific exchange on specific research topics, in the framework of colloquia,
  
• as a scientific committee advising, as required, the UN and other intergovernmental organizations on space research matters or on the assessment of scientific issues in which space can play a role,
  
• as a panel for the preparation of scientific and technical standards related to space research,
  
• as an entity promoting, on an international level, research in space, much of which has grown into large international collaborative programs in the mainstream of scientific research. COSPAR strives to promote the use of space science for the benefit of mankind and for its adoption by developing countries and new space-faring nations.
  
  COSPAR Charter and Bylaws

COSPAR COUNCIL AND BUREAU

COSPAR's highest body is the Council. The Council is comprised of the Committee's President, Representatives of Member National Scientific Institutions and International Scientific Unions, the Chairs of COSPAR Scientific Commissions, and the Chair of the Finance Committee. The Council meets at the Committee's biennial Scientific Assembly. Between Assemblies it is the Bureau which runs COSPAR on a day-to-day basis (see the COSPAR Charter and By-Laws for further details). The Bureau for the 2006 - 2010 term is composed as follows:

• COSPAR President:
  • Prof. R-M. Bonnet* (France)
• Vice-Presidents:
  • Prof. W. Hermsen* (Netherlands) (w.hermsen - at - sron.nl)
  • Dr. E.C. Stone* (USA)
• Members:
  
  • Prof. M.-H. Jiang (China)
  • Dr. M.E. Machado* (Argentina) (machado - at - conae.gov.ar)
  • Prof. G.G. Shepherd* (Canada) (gordon - at - yorku.ca)
  • Prof. R. Sridharan (India)
  • Prof. L. Zelenyi (Russia)
  • Prof. J.B. Zielinski* (Poland)
    
  
  * second term

COSPAR FINANCE COMMITTEE

• Chair:
  • Dr. D. Kendall* (Canada) (dave.kendall - at - space.gc.ca)
• Members:
  
  • Dr. G. Horneck (Germany)
  • Prof. A.R.W. Hughes (S. Africa)
    

* second term

OTHER COSPAR COMMITTEES

Awards Committee
COSPAR Scientific Advisory Committee (CSAC)
Editorial Board (Advances in Space Research)
Editorial Board (Space Research Today)
Nomination Committee
Program Committee
Publications Committee

COSPAR SECRETARIAT

• Executive Director:
  • Dr. J.-L. Fellous
• Associate Director:
  • Mr. A. Janofsky
• Administrative Assistant:
  • Ms. Leigh Fergus Swan
• Accountant:
  
  • Ms. A. Stepniak
    

COSPAR Secretariat
c/o CNES
2 place Maurice Quentin
75039 Paris Cedex 01, France

Tel.: +33 1 44 76 75 10 (outside France), 01 44 76 75 10 (inside France)
Fax: +33 1 44 76 74 37 (outside France), 01 44 76 74 37 (inside France)
cospar - at - cosparhq.cnes.fr
http://cosparhq.cnes.fr