The AC5 Council was established during the AGM in 2021 and has been actively functioning for the past three years. During this period, the council’s internal structure has evolved, allowing the International Association of Physics Students (IAPS) to align more closely with the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP). This alignment has led to significant achievements, including securing IUPAP’s support for all major events and launching the Early Career Scientist Prize.
Initially chaired by Ruhi Chitre (2021-2022), followed by Gabriel Maynard (2022-2023), and currently led by Niloofar Jokar, the IAPS Vice-President, the AC5 Council has continually expanded its scope and objectives. As the council was newly formed, its members, under the guidance of the chairs, defined the tasks.
Now, with three years of experience, both the AC5 Council and the IAPS Executive Committee (EC) have gained clarity in identifying specific tasks for the council to fulfill. Consequently, a significant structural change for the council is proposed at the current AGM.
Given that the administrative tasks of the AC5 Council overlap with those of the EC, the IAPS President, Vice-President, and EC Secretary will serve as ex-officio members of the council, with the Vice-President assuming the role of chair. This body will maintain communication with IUPAP, given IAPS’s status as the Affiliated Commission 5 of IUPAP, and ensure the legal documentation for AC5 is in place.
In addition to these ex-officio members, six elected positions will be created:
1. Early Career Scientist Prize Positions (2): These positions will be open to IAPS members and will focus on organizing the prize timeline, coordinating the jury, managing applications, and liaising with the IAPS PR Manager for prize announcements.
2. Industry Managing Positions (2): These positions will be open to IAPS members and will focus on maintaining relationships with the IUPAP Working Group 16 and industry partners, thereby deepening IAPS’s connections and building external partnerships.
3. Outreach and Advocacy Positions (2): These positions will be open to IAPS members and will focus on advocating for physics education by collaborating with IUPAP Commission C14, promoting inclusion in collaboration with IUPAP Working Group 5, and coordinating AC5’s public relations efforts with the IAPS PR Manager.
This proposed restructuring aims to better define the roles and responsibilities within the AC5 Council, streamline its operations, and enhance its collaboration with IUPAP and other stakeholders.