International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
Encyclopedia
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
devoted to the advancement of physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. It was established in 1922 and the first General Assembly was held in 1923 in Paris.
The aims of the Union are: to stimulate and promote international cooperation in physics; to sponsor suitable international meetings and to assist organizing committees; to foster the preparation and the publication of abstracts of papers and tables of physical constants; to promote international agreements on the use of symbols, units, nomenclature and standards; to foster free circulation of scientists; to encourage research and education.
The Union is governed by its General Assembly, which meets every three years. The Council is its top executive body, supervising the activities of the nineteen specialized International Commissions and the three Affiliated Commissions. The Union is composed of Members representing identified physics communities. At present 49 Members adhere to IUPAP.
IUPAP is a member of the International Council for Science
International Council for Science
The International Council for Science , formerly the International Council of Scientific Unions, was founded in 1931 as an international non-governmental organization devoted to international co-operation in the advancement of science...
(ICSU).
The SUNAMCO Commission of the IUPAP published the book entitled Symbols, Units, Nomenclature and Fundamental Constants in Physics, 1987 Revision, by E.R. Cohen and P. Giacomo which is also known as the red book, I.U.P.A.P.-25, or SUNAMCO 87-1. This book was reprinted from Physica, Vol. 146A, Nos. 1-2, p. 1 (November, 1987) http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP811/footnotes.html. The 1987 edition of the Symbols, Units, Nomenclature and Fundamental Constants in Physics is available on the internet at
http://metrology.wordpress.com/measurement-process-index/iupap-red-book/