| Description | ' At the fourteenth meeting of the British Committee for Co-operation with UNESCO in the Natural Sciences, held in the rooms of the Royal Society on Tuesday, 2 October 1956;
Present: Dr H G Thornton, Foreign Secretary, Chairman; Professor J D Bernal, Association of Scientific Workers; Professor G L Brown, Secretary, Royal Society; Dr G E R Deacon, National Committee for Geodesy and Geophysics; Mr F J C Herrald, Medical Research Council; Professor A V Hill, International Council of Scientific Union; Professor W V D Hodge, British National Committee for Mathematics; Dr J Jackson, British National Committee for Astronomy; Mr E D Jourdain, Advisory Council on Scientific Policy; Dame Kathleen Lonsdale, British National Committee for Crystallography; Dr H W Melville, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; Dr C F A Pantin, British National Committee for Biology; Sir John Simonsen, Royal Society; Professor F J M Stratton, British Association; Professor G Temple, British National Committee for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Mr J M Wordie, British National Committee for the International Geophysical Year;
Joint Secretaries; Mr J S Arthur, , Ministry of Education; Dr D C Martin, Royal Society
Dr R L Zwemer, UNESCO, Sir Harold Spencer Jones and Sir Charles Darwin attended by invitation. Mr R Millson, Mr J A Tate and Dr E B Worthington attended in place of Mr D Robbins, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Mr W P L Monson, Colonial Office, and Mr E M Nicholson, Nature Conservancy, respectively. Mr F R Cowell, Ministry of Education was also present.
Matters discussed;
116. Minutes of the thirteenth meeting held on 26 April 1956 confirmed
117. Matters arising from the minutes;
International Union for the Protection of Nature
With reference to minute 109 it was reported that HM Government had decided not to adhere to the International Union which had now become the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Nature Resources (IUCN). In the course of the discussion the likelihood of other countries following the lead of the United Kingdom was mentiOned and it was Resolved - that the Committee record its regret that H M Government had not thought fit to adhere to the International Union for the ConservatiOn of Nature and its hope that this decision would be reconsidered.
118. UNESCO General Conference, New Delhi November 1956
The Chairman reported the nomination of Sir Charles Darwin as scientific delegate to the Ninth Session of the General Conference of UNESCO to be held in New Delhi from 5 November 1956 to 5 December 1956 and consideration was given to the delegation from the United Kingdom. NS (56) 13. The draft brief (NS (56) 13) was agreed to with the following modifications;
2.1 Co-operation with International Scientific Organizations (para 3)
That the delegation should urge an additional subvention of 25,000 dollars (instead of 15,000 dollars) to the International Secretariat of the International Geophysical Year.
2.2(c) Cell Biology
That the importance of consulting the International Union of Biological Sciences (through ICSU) in the organisation of symposia on cell biology and in other activities in this field be emphasized.
2.3(d) Marine Sciences
that paragraphs 2 - 5 of the draft brief be replaced by the following;
'It is recommended that paragraph 58 of the Natural Sciences Programme should be carried out as far as marine sciences are concerned. It is suggested that the precise future relations between UNESCO's Advisory Committee and SCOR should be clearly established as soon as possible and that all possible steps should be taken to promote friendly relations as equals between UNESCO and ICSU and other organisations in the field.'
It was agreed in general that the increased grant suggested for the International Geophysical Year might be provided by a reduction in the budget for the Atomic Energy item and an overall reduction in the budget for Regional Activities, possibly be getting the local countries to share the cost of the field offices.
119. Applications for consultative status with UNESCO
Applications from the International Astronomical Federation and the World Federation of Scientific Workers for consultative status with UNESCO were considered (NS (56) 14). With regard to the former it was suggested that this federation was of a technical kind and might more properly have relations with UNESCO through an appropriate organisation such as ICSU or UATI. With regard to the latter it was thought to be related with the ILO and ECOSCC. It was agreed that it be a recommendation that the admission of the International Astronautical Federation be deferred and that the UK delegates to New Delhi be free to use their discretion after discussion with other delegations concerning the appliction of the World Federation of Scientific Workers. ' |