Organisation
The objectives of IAGA Division VI Electromagnetic Induction in the Earth and Planetary Bodies are:
- to promote studies of the electromagnetic induction in the Earth and planetary bodies;
- to provide an opportunity on an international basis for presentation, discussion and publication of the results of the research indicated above;
- to promote and encourage research in the above subjects by individual countries, institutions or persons and to facilitate international co-ordination of such research;
- to promote appropriate standardizations of observational programs, data acquisition systems, data analysis, modelling, and publications;
- to promote understanding and appreciation of electromagnetic induction methods by the general public through, but not limited to, public lectures, media events, media publication packages, etc.
The activities of the Division are organized by the Division Committee. Scientists are nominated for vacant positions on the committee, and, if there are more nominations than vacancies, a ballot of all attendees at the Division business meeting is held. Nominations by the committee for vacant positions take into account primarily scientific expertise as well as geographic distribution and gender of members.
A member normally serves on the committee for a term of eight (8) years. From the committee a member is chosen to be the Co-Chair for a period of four (4) years. Normally, the Co-Chair is elected to the Chair of the Division Committee, and holds that position for four (4) years. In addition, there are non-voting observer positions on the committee. The four ex officio standing ones are the position of Past Chair, and the positions of Chairs of the Local Organizing Committees for the previous, next and subsequent workshops. Others may be appointed as Observers when deemed necessary by the Committee.
From the perspective of the IAGA Executive Committee however, the only "officials" of the Division are the Chair and Co-Chair. The Division structure and membership are internal matters for the Division, in accordance with IAGA's bottom-up policy, as stated in the IAGA statutes (see Section 1, Sub-Section 1.1 of Guidelines for IAGA Officers ).
The Division Committee members are elected at the Business Meetings of the EM Induction Workshops, because the Workshops are attended by many more delegates than the IUGG General Assemblies. At their Business Meeting of the Workshop in Helsingor (EMIW2018), the members of IAGA division VI unanimously adopted the notion to include electronic voting in the new statutes and bylaws.