Owing to unforeseen personal circumstances the current Assistant General Secretary, Ian Robson, has left office. These special circumstances allow the IAU to open the position of IAU Assistant General Secretary 2019–2021, followed by three years as IAU General Secretary 2021–2024.

The IAU aims to refill the Assistant General Secretary position as soon as possible through a search by the Special Nominating Committee. The position of IAU (Assistant) General Secretary is unpaid; the General Secretary is required to spend a significant amount of time in Paris. Please contact your National Member by 15 June 2019 if you have suggestions for candidates.

The IAU thanks Ian Robson for all his efforts on behalf of the IAU, especially in the areas of outreach and development, and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

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The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 13 500 professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.

Contacts

Ewine F. van Dishoeck
IAU President
Leiden University
Phone: +31 71 527 58 14
Email: ewine@strw.leidenuniv.nl

Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Press Officer
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 320 06 761
Cell: +49 173 38 72 621
Email: lars@eso.org