| Description | ' Item 9 - Committees and Boards - page 593 of printed unsigned minutes
With reference to minute 15 of 18 December 1969, reported that the Chairman of the Joint Permanent Eclipse Committee had consulted the members (four representative each of the Royal Society and the Royal Astronomical Society, together with the Physical Secretary ex officio) about the possible dissolution of the Committee; among the arguments he had put forward were the fact that few problems appeared urgently in need of eclipse observations, other techniques could now provide some of the data needed, and in recent years the Science Research Council had taken over most of the financing of astronomical research, including that based on expeditions.
Reported that Professor M J Lighthill, in November 1969, as Physical Secretary, had agreed that machinery within the Royal Society for this purpose was no longer needed.
Page 597
Reported that the Chairman had consulted the Committee again about the dissenting view of one member and that the Chairman subsequently intimated that the great majority remained clearly of the opinion that the Committee should be disbanded.
Resolved -
(a0 That, as recommended by the Physical Secretary, the Joint Permanent Eclipse Committee be dissolved.
(b) That the following nominations of representatives to serve on National Committees from 1 January 1970 be confirmed;
Chemistry - Dr P J Agius as the representative of the Institute of Petroleum for three yers
Geology - Mr S E Churchfield as the representative of the Institute of Petroluem for three years
Radio Science - Dr M J Rycroft as the representative of the Institute of Physics and Mr T Kilvington as that of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunicatins, both for six years. ' |