Constitution Based on Article 4, Law of Aims and Duties, the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution and Act 135 of the Meeting on 5 January, 1988 of the Council, The Academy of Sciences of IR Iran (hereafter referred to as the Academy) shall be established on the basis of this Constitution. Article I. Aims - Contribution to the development of science and technology in the country - Encouragement of the spirit of research - Promotion of the State’s scientific and cultural levels - Access to the latest scientific findings and innovations through teamwork, and absorbing, encouraging and supporting eminent researchers and scholars. Article II. Duties 1. Development of the boundaries of science and the promotion of the State’s scientific and research levels 2. Studies on and analysis of the status of science, technology, education and research at the national scale, as well as giving advice to relevant authorities for the improvement of the existing condition 3. Providing expert opinions on fundamental issues and topics of science, research, and technology referred to the Academy by the government, scientific institutions, and research centers 4. Studies on the experiences of other countries on the development of science, technologies, and the latest scientific findings and their applications on the basis of the existing background and facilities in the State 5. Encouragement of scientists and researches for the development of scientific and cultural works through material and spiritual support 6. Facilitation of the exchange of views, information and research findings among scientists and researchers 7. Exchange of experts and researchers with other academies of the world, particularly Islamic and Third World countries, through the provision of scholarships and the utilization of scientific visits and sabbatical leaves via the relevant authorities 8. Reviewing seminars, congresses and scientific conferences at the national and international levels, and proposal of standards for their qualitative promotion and evaluating such gatherings 9. Organization of seminars, congresses and conferences on the latest scientific, technological and cultural findings 10. Dissemination of scientific information by publishing scientific and research journals and books, especially the results of new scientific and cultural findings, at national and international levels 11. Awarding prizes, rewards and medals to distinguished scholars, researchers and institutions that have made outstanding scientific and cultural contributions 12. Proposal of the allocation of credits and provision of facilities for prominent researchers 13. Approval of the membership of the Academy in international organizations and societies having similar aims and duties within the laws and regulations of the State Article III. Bodies of the Academy: 1. President of the Islamic Republic of Iran in his capacity as the presidency 2. Board of Trustees of the Academies of IR Iran The Academies of IR have a Board of Trustees whose combination is as follows: - First Vice President of IR Iran as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees - Ministers of Science, Research and Technology; Health and Medical Education; Culture and Islamic Guidance - Presidents of the Academies of IR Iran - Two scientists and experts proposed by each president of the Academies 3. General Assembly (consisting of the Academy’s Fellows) 4. President of the Academy 5. Academic Council (President of the Academy and the chairs of the Academic Departments) 6. Secretary Article IV. General Assembly The Assembly is composed of all the Fellows (Full Members) of the Academy. It holds meetings at least twice a year. Note 1. The Associate Members may also attend the meetings but shall not have the right to vote. Note 2. The Assembly is presided over by the President of the Academy. Article V. Duties of the General Assembly - Approval of policies and scientific programs of the Academy - Approval of the executive regulations of the scientific activities of the Academy - Nomination of eligible scholars for receiving rewards, prizes, medals, and for being awarded sabbatical leaves; and referring their names to the Presidency of the Academy - Election of Fellows, Associate Members and Honorary Members Article VI. Academic Council The Academic Council of the Academy consists of: 1- President of the Academy, as its chair 2- Chairs of the Academic Departments Article VII. Duties of the Academic Council - Studies on policies and scientific programs of the Academy and referring them to the General Assembly for approval - Preparing and proposing the executive regulations of the Academy’s scientific activities and passing them to the General Assembly for approval - Specifying the duties of Academic Departments - Studies and comments made on scientific projects and referring them to the relevant Academic Departments - Determination of major problems for researching, and recommending them to relevant scientific centers of the State - Compilation of codes of awarding reward, prizes, badges, medals and scholarships to eligible individuals - Studies and comments made on codes of promoting the quality of national and international seminars, congresses and conferences and the evaluation of such symposia - Performing other works referred to this Council by the Board of Trustees of the Academies, General Assembly and the President of the Academy Article VIII. President of the Academy The President of the Academy is chosen from among the Fellows of the Academy by the proposal of the President of IR Iran and approval of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution by the written order of the President of IR Iran for a four-year term. The President of the Academy shall be replaced before the end of the term of presidency in case of demise, decline, resignation and dismissal. Note: The President of the Academy may be reelected. Article IX. Duties of the President of the Academy 1- Proposal of the administrative organization, budget and annual account to the Board of Trustees of the Academies for approval 2- Recommendation of the membership of the Academy in international scientific societies 3- Appointment of the chairs of the Academic Departments and secretary of the Academy 4- Recommendation of the nominees as Fellows, Associate Members and Honorary Members to the General Assembly for approval 5- Control and follow up of the proper implementation of the decisions made by the Board of Trustees of the Academies, the General Assembly and Academic Council 6- Invitation of the members of the General Assembly and the Academic Council to hold meetings Article X. The Secretary of the Academy is appointed by the written order of the President of the Academy. Article XI. Duties of the Secretary of the Academy 1-Managing the administrative and financial affairs of the Secretariat 2-Recruiting the required staff for the Academy 3-Accomplishing the affairs referred by the General Assembly, President of the Academy and Academic Council Article XII. Academic Departments The Academic Departments of the Academy are: 1- Department of Agricultural Sciences 2- Department of Basic Sciences 3- Department of Engineering Sciences 4- Department of Human Sciences 5- Department of Islamic Sciences 6- Department of Veterinary Sciences Note 1. Each Academic Department is composed of Fellows or members. These members are chosen on the basis of the types of their specialties by the President of the Academy. Each Academic Department is presided over by a chair who is appointed by the President of the Academy. Note 2. Each department is responsible for the development of scientific programs and passing them to the Academic Council. Article XIII. The Academy is an institution with autonomous legal entity affiliated to the Office of the President of IR Iran. The annual credits allocated for the Academy are included under the credits of the Office of the President of IR Iran. Article XIV. The Academy’s financial affairs and transactions shall be in accordance with the regulations approved by the Board of Trustees of the Academies. Article XV. The Academy shall have Fellows, Associate Members and Honorary Members to be elected on the basis of the enacted regulations and academic criteria after the nomination and approval of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution or the Academy itself. Regarding the latter case, the nominees will be elected by the proposal of the President of the Academy or at least five members of the General Assembly, followed by the approval of the General Assembly and the written order of the President of the Academy. These members shall have lifelong membership. Note1. Fellows are required to be Iranian citizens and obliged to obey the laws of IR Iran. Moreover, they should be full professor and have the ability for research leadership. Eminent scholars who do not hold university ranks may also become Fellows provided that they have equivalent qualifications. Note2. Prominent International Scholars who will become Honorary Members of the Academy shall have no responsibility and their selection shall be on the basis of their academic prestige. Note3. Each Fellow of the Academy who is absent for 6 consecutive months or who fails to participate in two-thirds of the meetings without the consent of the President of the Academy, shall be resigned. The General Assembly shall make the appropriate decision about the absence of Associate Members and Honorary Members and their resignation. Note 4. Membership of Associate Members shall be for a four-year term. Associate Members may be reelected according to the Constitution. Article XVI. The Academy shall have at least 15 Fellows to be chosen from among scientists of different fields of study. The Fellows will be initially elected by the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution. Article XVII. The regulations of auditing of the annual accounts of the Academy shall be developed by the coordination of the Office of the President of IR Iran and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance and approved by the Board of Trustees of the Academies. Article XVIII. This constitution includes 20 Articles and 7 Notes enacted on the 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100 Meetings on 25 October, 1, 8, 15, 22, November, 1988 of the Joint Council of the Commissions of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution and revised to 18 Articles and 9 Notes in Meetings 329, 333, 341, 477, 650 on 17 May, 12 July, 14 November, 1994, 10 April, 2001 and 13 October 2009.