International Geographical Union

The International Geographical Union (IGU) is the international organization of academic geographers, established in 1922 in Brussels following a series of international geographical meetings, the first of which was held at Antwerp in 1871. The objectives of the IGU are to promote the study of geographical problems; to initiate and coordinate geographical research requiring international cooperation and to promote its scientific discussion and publication; to provide for the participation of geographers in the work of relevant international organizations; to facilitate the collection and diffusion of geographical data and documentation in and between all member countries; to promote meetings of the IGU, regional conferences between the international geographical congresses, and other meetings in furtherance of the objectives of the Union; to participate in any other appropriate form of international cooperation with the object of advancing the study and application of geography; and to promote [Page 1615]international standardization or compatibility of methods, nomenclature, and symbols employed in geography.

The IGU belongs to the International Council on Science and to the International Social Sciences Council and recognizes them as providing coordinating and representative bodies for the international organization of science and the social sciences, respectively.

IGU membership is normally by country, currently 98, rather than by individuals, national professional organizations, or national societies. Member countries are expected to establish committees for the IGU, frequently functioning through national academies of science. They promote the objectives of the Union in their respective countries, notably the international aspects. They also diffuse information from the executive committee to geographers in their country. Associate country membership applies to small or emerging geographical communities. A third membership class is of corresponding members who may be either individuals or institutions.

The IGU functions through its general assembly, consisting of all member countries and meeting every congress. The assembly elects the executive committee, which consists of the president, the immediate past president, seven other vice presidents, and a secretary-general. The president, the secretary-general, and the executive committee manage the Union's activities, assisted by a secretariat located close to the office of the secretary-general, who serves also as the treasurer.

The working languages of the IGU are English and French. The Union holds a congress every 4 yrs. (years) and a regional conference every 2 yrs. between congresses. Locations for these meetings are competitive. The IGU maintains the Home of Geography, located within the premises of the Italian Geographical Society in Rome, which publishes a newsletter and specialized monographs. The main organ for continuous scientific work is the commissions, currently numbering 36, in addition to task forces (currently four) and special committees (currently two). The commissions reflect both veteran and novel specialties in geography. Commissions are approved by the general assembly, and they constitute a steering committee of 10 to 12 geographers from different countries and the commission itself, to which any geographers may join. Commissions hold meetings, workshops, and field trips; develop joint research projects; and publish newsletters and journals and exchange information through mailing lists.