WABSE STATUTES, ADOPTED

(I) Aims and function

(1) The objects of the (World) Associates for Biosystem Science and Engineering (WABSE) is the advancement of education, research and industry in the fields of transgenics, biosystems science. The WABSE includes the (International) Union of Transgenics (IUT) - Synthetic Biology and the Union of Systems Genetics etc.. In furtherance of this aim the Council may exercise the following powers:
(a) to organise international co-operation in science and technology of biosystems, functional genomics and to promote communication between the various branches of biosystems and allied subjects, which include the genetic principles, biocomputing analysis and applications in genomics etc.;
(b) to set up global network of R & D institutes, and the Academy for Science and Engineering of Biosystem (ABSE);
(c) to encourage within each adhering body co-operation between the societies that represent the interests of biosystems science and engineering;
(d) to contribute to the advancement of biosystems science and engineering in all its aspects.
(2) For these purposes it shall have power:
(a) to set up task forces, commissions or other bodies for special purposes;
(b) to organise international meetings, conferences and exhibitions;
(c) to collaborate with other scientific organisations;
(d) to develop any lawful activity deemed helpful to the forwarding of its declared objects.

(II) Membership

(3) The WABSE shall consist of a group of adhering bodies representing Scientific Communities. In each Scientific Community the adhering body shall be a Research Council or similar institution, a scientific Society or a group of such Societies, or a body specially formed for the purpose of adhering to the WABSE. In each case a Committee with responsibility for the WABSE shall be formed, and adherence to the WABSE shall be ratified when the membership of this Committee has been reported to, and recognised by, the General Assembly of the WABSE. Scientific Communities that are not adhering bodies may be observing bodies of the society, without voting rights. Applications for observer status will be acted on by the General Assembly.
(4) The term Scientific Community shall be applicable to the WABSE of a country or of an otherwise defined geographical area that has an independent budget for scientific purposes.
(5) The adhering and observing bodies shall be required to pay an annual subscription to the WABSE.

(III) Committees for WABSE

(6) Within their own Scientific Communities the Committees for WABSE will be expected to co-ordinate the interests of the various branches of biosystems science and engineering. In the relations with WABSE each Committee for biosystems shall appoint delegates to represent its Scientific Community at the General Assembly of the WABSE, and shall select a leader of its delegation. Each delegate shall vote on behalf of his or her Scientific Community at the General Assembly.

(IV)General Assembly

(7) The work of the WABSE shall be directed by the General Assembly of delegates, which shall normally meet once every three years. The General Assembly shall elect the Officers and members of Council; nominations for candidates for election shall be submitted to the Secretary General in writing at least four months before the meeting of the General Assembly.
(8) The membership of the General Assembly of the WABSE shall consist of delegates appointed by the adhering bodies, the delegates of the Task Forces and Commissions (see paragraph 9), the officers, and the ordinary members of the Council. Only those members who have been appointed as delegates and are present in person may vote. Each member of the General Assembly may cast only a single vote.
(9) There shall be three categories of membership for adhering bodies, the amount of the corresponding subscriptions to be fixed by the General Assembly. Depending upon the level of membership chosen by the adhering body, it shall have the right to send one, two, or three delegates to the General Assembly. In addition, each Task Force and Commission has the right to send one delegate to the General Assembly. The level of annual subscription for observing bodies shall be set by the General Assembly at a level below the lowest level for adhering bodies. Observing bodies may send one representative to the Assembly, who shall not have the right to participate in the discussions or vote.
(10) At the General Assemblies, questions shall be decided by a simple majority of all delegates present except for the modification of Statutes (see paragraph 24).

(V) Officers of the WABSE

(11) The Officers of the WABSE shall be a President, two Vice-Presidents, and a Secretary General, elected by the General Assembly, together with an Honorary Vice-President. The President shall hold office for a period of about three years, i.e. from the end of one General Assembly to the end of the succeeding General Assembly. Similarly, the Vice-Presidents may hold office for about three years, one of them normally then becoming President and the other continuing to serve as an ordinary member of the Council for one further term. The position of Honorary Vice-President shall normally be held for three years by the immediate past President. The Secretary General shall hold office for six years, but may be re-elected for further periods of three years to a maximum of twelve years.
(12) The official centre of the WABSE is the Office of the Secretary General or such other place as the Council of the WABSE shall from time to time determine. It shall be the duty of the Secretary General to maintain relationship with all bodies adhering to the WABSE and all other relevant organisations within the field of the science and technology of biosystems. The Secretary General shall prepare budgets and agenda, and circulate them at least four months before meetings of the Council and General Assembly.

(VI) The Council

(13) The executive body of the General Assembly shall be a Council, which shall be guided in all its decisions by the tradition of free international scientific co-operation. The Officers of the WABSE, acting as a group, may conduct the business of the Council in the intervals between meetings of the Council, reporting subsequently to the Council.
(14) The Council shall consist of the five Officers of the WABSE, who shall also be the Officers of the Council, and not more than 12 ordinary members (including the retiring Vice-President) who shall normally be elected from among the members of the General Assembly. The ordinary members of the Council shall serve for a term of three years and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms. The Council may co-opt to any vacancies which occur (including the officers) and any person so co-opted has the same tenure of office as the person replaced. No member of the Council either an ordinary member or an officer, shall be individually liable for the corporate debts and liabilities of the WABSE or any of its Commissions or Committees.
(15) In the execution of the purposes of the WABSE, no member of the Council, Secretary, Auditor or other officer of the WABSE shall be liable for any loss to the property of the WABSE arising (i) by reason of any improper investment made in good faith (provided that he/she shall have sought professional advice before making such investment) or (ii) through the negligence or fraud of any agent employed in good faith by him/her or by any other member of the Council (provided reasonable supervision shall have been exercised) even if the employment of such agent was strictly not necessary or (iii) by reason of any mistake or omission made in good faith by any member of the Council or (iv) by any other reason except wilful and individual fraud, wrongdoing or wrongful omission on the part of the member of the Council who is sought to be made liable.
(16) No member of the Council shall acquire any interest in property belonging to the WABSE (otherwise than as a trustee for the WABSE) or receive remuneration or be interested (otherwise than as a member of the Council) in any contract entered into by the Council.
(17) The meetings of the Council shall be held:
(a) during the General Assembly;
(b) normally once between each General Assembly, but exceptionally at other times upon the decision of the Council. Seven members of the Council shall constitute a quorum at a Council meeting.

(VII) Task Forces and Commissions

(18) Task Forces and Commissions may be set up by the General Assembly or by the Council to take responsibility:
(a) for the various branches of biosystems science and technology;
(b) for any other necessary purpose, including co-operation with other international organisations.
(19) The Adhering Bodies shall be consulted regarding the membership of each Task Force. The Council shall appoint from among its number at least one representative on each Task Force, one of whom shall normally act as convenor.
(20) Existing international bodies may be admitted as Affiliated Commissions to the WABSE by the General Assembly or by the Council (subject to confirmation by the next General Assembly). Affiliated Commissions shall pay an annual subscription, the amount to be designated by the General Assembly.
(21) The constitution of each Task Force must be approved by the Council. The Convenor of each Task Force shall be responsible for the presentation of a report on its work at each General Assembly. Decisions of Task Forces are made by a simple majority of the votes of their members.
(22) The Council shall have the right to designate a representative to sit on the executive body of each Affiliated Commission. The Secretary General shall receive copies of all official communications pertaining to the activities of the Affiliated Commissions.
(23) In addition to grants made to them by the Council, Task Forces and Commissions may receive grants from other sources.

(VIII) Modification of the Statutes

(24) The present statutes may be modified only by a two-thirds written vote of all adhering bodies present at a General Assembly to which prior notice of the change has been given on the agenda.
(25) The English/Chinese text is to be used in interpreting the present Statutes.

(IX) Dissolution

(26) If the Council decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the WABSE it shall call a meeting of all members of the WABSE, of which not less than three months notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed) shall be given. If the proposal is confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting the Council shall have power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the WABSE. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the WABSE as the members of the WABSE shall determine or failing that shall be applied to some other charitable purpose.

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