Message from the President of IAS

The Indiana Academy of Science has a long and proud record of service to the scientific and educational communities in Indiana. Since its inception in 1885 its members have included some of Indiana’s foremost scientists from academia and industry. Governed almost exclusively by unpaid, voluntary leadership, the Academy has until recently flourished. Despite having one of the largest endowments of any state science academy and a wealth of dedicated people willing to serve, the Academy now finds itself with declining membership and loss of visibility and importance within the Indiana scientific and educational communities. After an extensive review of Academy practices and procedures, it has become apparent to all concerned that the volunteer, grass‐roots governance system is no longer able to carry on the activities of the Academy successfully.

That is about to change. For the first time in its history the Academy is in the process of searching for a full‐time Executive Director and a permanent office. Other changes to the governance system are also in the works. At present the elected leadership includes the president, past president, president elect, and treasurer as members of the Executive Committee. The chairs of two elected committees, the Academy Foundation and Research Grants, are also members of the Executive Committee. There are presently fifteen standing committees whose members are named by the president. The members of the Executive Committee, chairs of the elected and standing committees, and chairs of the sections* comprise the Council which is responsible for all matters of policy. This incredibly complex and convoluted system of governance spreads responsibility so thin that any kind of strong central leadership is impossible. Coupled with the one‐year terms of office for the president the governance system makes it impossible to maintain momentum, actively work to increase membership, develop innovative programs, network with other scientific organizations, seek development money from foundations, companies, and individuals, or carry out long range plans.
Hiring an Executive Director is only the first step in addressing these problems. The Council, which can number as high as seventy people, many of whom come to the policy meeting unprepared, is to be reduced in size to eight. The Executive Committee is to be discontinued. The number of standing committees will be reduced to seven, with the duties and responsibilities of committees which were eliminated becoming the responsibility of the Executive Director.

The Indiana Academy of Science has an endowment of nearly eight million dollars. This fund is managed by an elected committee (Academy Foundation) of three people. Traditionally, most of the income from the endowment has been devoted to funding scientific research within the state. This practice will continue, as promoting scientific research is one of the prime obligations of the Academy, as specified in the will of the original donor of the endowment funds; however, for the first time Foundation monies will also be diverted to support the Executive Director and a permanent office.

*The Academy conducts two annual meetings: fall and spring. The fall meeting has always been devoted to “papers” sessions in which scientists and educators from around the state present papers on their research in sessions designated by discipline. From now on, the “papers” sessions will be held during the spring meeting. The Academy is inaugurating the first of what promises to become a signature annual or biannual event, The IAS Fall Forum on Science and Society. The Forum can take a variety of forms, including contemporary topics of concern and recognition of the work of outstanding Indiana Scientists. This year’s lecture will be presented by Dr. Elenor Ostrom from IU‐Bloomington, recipient of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, for her work on the management of common area as it relates to sustainable resource yields. Dr. Ostrom’s talk will be followed by a panel of three speakers who will discuss how Dr. Ostrom’s approach to conserving the commons is applicable to their organization’s efforts. The members of the panel are: John Bacone, Director Nature Preserves, DNR; Jesse Kharbanda, Executive Director, Hoosier Environmental Council; and Mary McConnell, Indiana State Director, The Nature Conservancy.

In an effort to actively engage with other organizations in the state the President of the Academy has recently begun discussions with the State Museum of Indiana on ways to offer collaborative programs which may be of common interest and concern. There is also the possibility that the Academy office will be In the Museum.

The Indiana Academy of Science is attempting to reinvent itself in order to be of greater service to the scientists, educators, and students (at all levels) of the State of Indiana. We have an obligation to the thousands of dedicated scientists and educators who have served so ably over the last one hundred and twenty‐five years to return the Academy to the position of prominence which it once held.

James R. Curry, Ph.D.

President, Indiana Academy of Science