The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) is the only global International Scientific Union dedicated to physics that connects physicists from all fields and all continents. It is run by physicists for the benefit of physics and its applications and it depends essentially on volunteers to do its work. About to enter its second century of existence, IUPAP reaffirms its defining aims, expanding them to embrace current challenges and conditions. The Strategic Plan hereby presented is the result of numerous discussions enriched by the input of the diverse membership of IUPAP.

Fulfilling the commitments that were made upon its creation and expanding on them, the new strategic plan of IUPAP and its proposed actions aspire to achieve the following goals:

  • Assist in the worldwide development of physics and promote physics as an essential tool for development and sustainability;
  • Engage in the strengthening and improvement of physics education, particularly in developing countries;
  • Increase diversity and inclusion in physics, enhancing the participation and recognition of women and of people from underrepresented groups;
  • Foster international cooperation and sponsor suitable international physics meetings;
  • Promote the free circulation of scientists and the open access to data;
  • Enhance the vital role of early career physicists;
  • Strengthen the links with physicists working outside academia and with other scientific communities;
  • Uphold openness, honesty and integrity in the practice, application and promotion of physics;
  • Promote international agreements on symbols, units, nomenclature and standards.
Context

IUPAP has been advancing physics across international boundaries for almost 100 years. Thirteen countries established the organization in Brussels in 1922. Today there are 60 territorial members from around the world. According to the new Articles and Internal Regulations of the Union approved by the 30th General Assembly held in October 2021 the Chairs of Commissions and Affiliated Commissions of the IUPAP are personal members with voting rights. These new regulations also allow the existence of corporate associate members that can participate in the General Assemblies with no voting rights.

The governance of the Union is now carried out according to the Articles and Internal Regulations that, based on the previous Statutes (https://iupap.org/about-us/statutes/) and Bylaws (https://iupap.org/about-us/statutes/bylaws/), allowed the transformation of IUPAP into a Swiss legal entity. The ultimate authority of the Union resides in its General Assembly (GA) that shall be held yearly either in person or in virtual form. Between the General Assemblies the Executive Council governs the affairs.

At present, the income of IUPAP is primarily derived from the dues paid by its members, supplemented from time to time by grants to carry out specific projects. Currently, there is only one administrative staff member, so that most of the work is done by some 350 volunteer physicists. IUPAP is currently structured in 19 specialized commissions that promote the objectives of the Union in their respective areas of expertise, six affiliated commissions and thirteen working groups.

Vision

IUPAP abides by the principle of the universality of science, which, in turn, is an aspect of the unity of human knowledge, based on empirical data. It embodies and promotes the unity of physics by strengthening international cooperation within the physics community and fostering freedom of movement, association, expression and communication for scientists, as well as equitable access to data, information, and research infrastructures and materials. IUPAP considers that collaboration across countries, communities, disciplines and physics fields is enriching and necessary to advance towards a comprehensive understanding of nature and to develop solutions to the many problems that humanity faces. In this regard, basic and applied sciences cross-fertilize one another and support for one is essential to advance the other.

IUPAP wholeheartedly opposes any form of discrimination on the basis of such factors as sex, gender, race, color, ethnic or social origin, language, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. It strongly believes that diversity is essential to delivering excellence in science and that the full participation of people from the widest range of backgrounds and experiences is not only a moral obligation but will enhance scientific creativity and innovation. IUPAP is also greatly committed to the ideal that everyone should have the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the advancement of science, as a basic human right, and to the work required to achieve it.

IUPAP is deeply engaged in promoting the study of physics and related fields, in the understanding that many human endeavors, whether involving the environment, climate change, energy, materials, communications, urban and rural development, or human health, will benefit directly or indirectly from advances in the various disciplines of physics. To this end, IUPAP strongly endorses the engagement of students with evidence-based tools for the teaching of physics. It strongly promotes physics-based innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization for their positive impacts on society.

Increasing the general scientific literacy of the world is fundamental to empowering citizens to make informed decisions on various aspects that affect their lives, allowing them to identify and share reliable information, and becoming more discerning of information received. IUPAP is greatly committed to improving the perception of the public of the value of science, of scientific expertise and of science-based policy.

IUPAP is firmly in favor of all actions that will help to achieve sustainable development and a more balanced and inclusive world. Creative interventions are necessary to advance in this regard, for which the contributions of physics and science are key. IUPAP provides an international platform where scientists can raise their voices and express their views on any matter that relates to physics and the practice of physics in this world, and in so doing help to propose solutions and action plans to address such matters. This enables physicists to participate in decision-making that impacts physics on an international level in significant ways. IUPAP’s unique expertise can be put to good use in providing expert evidence-based advice to governments on current and future global challenges.

IUPAP thinks that scientific integrity is indissolubly linked to the practice of science. Thus, it is deeply committed to promoting scientific and ethical standards that will help to eliminate research misconduct, handle conflicts of interest, increase transparency and induce the internalization of values such as trust, accountability and fairness. These values are essential for collaborative work and for the way in which the results of scientific research are perceived by the general public. The creation of a new Affiliated Commission on the History and Philosophy of Physics and the appointment of a Vice-President at Large with responsibility for Outreach and Ethics will help IUPAP examine its own procedures and make sure that they align with the required ethical standards.