IAU Individual Membership Application Period Now Open

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the oldest of the international scientific unions and one of the few that includes individual as well as national members. Applications for individual IAU membership are first considered by the adhering body of each National Member, which recommends to the IAU those individuals who meet the requirements for Individual Membership. The US National Committee for the IAU (USNC-IAU) — acting for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which is the adhering body for the United States — will accept applications for IAU membership until 2 February 2018. Applicants applying via the USNC-IAU should be at least three years past a PhD in astronomy or related field or have related experience, be planning on a career related to astronomy, be a US citizen or living and working in the United States, or if not a US citizen, hold a green card, HI-B, or J visa. Holders of other visa types or those working in the US on a time-limited postdoctoral position should normally apply for IAU membership through their home country.

This year, for the first time, the IAU will consider applications for a new category of Junior Member. Applicants applying for Junior Membership through the USNC-IAU are expected to have received a PhD in astronomy or a related field, be planning on a career related to astronomy, and be a US citizen or be living and working in the United States.

Application forms and further information for both Regular and Junior IAU membership can be found on the USNC-IAU website. Applicants will be notified before the end of March if they are being recommended for IAU Membership and will be notified by the President of the IAU if they have been accepted after the IAU General Assembly in August 2018.

There are no individual dues related to Regular or Junior IAU Membership, but IAU Members are expected to take an active role in the Union through its Divisions, Commissions, or Working Groups. IAU membership is not required to participate in the General Assembly or IAU Symposia, but is encouraged for professionals working in astronomy or related fields who may want to take a more active role in the affairs of the Union. Members and nonmembers may apply for travel grants to participate in the General Assembly and/or related symposia through the IAU website. AAS International Travel Grants may be used by US astronomers to cover travel to the IAU General Assembly; the application deadline for such grants is 5 January 2018.