Constitution

International Space Environment Service

Chapter 1 (title)

Article 1:

The International Space Environment Service (ISES) is an independent international space weather service organization comprised of Regional Warning Centers (RWC), Associate Warning Centers (AWC), and Collaborative Expert Centers (CEC).

Article 2:

ISES is a Network Member of the International Council for Science World Data System (ICSU-WDS) and collaborates with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other international organizations, including the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), the International Union of Radio Science (URSI), and the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). ISES works in close cooperation with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other international organizations to benefit from complementary activities that enhance the availability of data, the exchange of information, and the improvement and dissemination of services, recognizing the mutual interest in global data acquisition and information exchange, in common application sectors, and in understanding and predicting the coupled Earth-Sun environment.

Article 3:

Prior to 1996, ISES was called the International URSIgram and World Days Service (IUWDS). The IUWDS was formed in 1962 as a combination of the former International World Days Service, initiated in 1959 as part of the International Geophysical Year (IGY), and the former URSI Central Committee of URSIgrams, which initiated rapid international data interchange services in 1928. The International Space Environment Service (ISES) has been the primary organization engaged in the international coordination of space weather services since 1962.

Chapter 2 (mission)

Article 4:

The mission of ISES is to deliver, coordinate and improve operational space weather services. This is accomplished through the rapid exchange of space environment information; the sharing of best practices for data analysis and product development; and the open dissemination of products and services. ISES is organized and operated for the benefit of the international space weather user community.

Paragraph 1: As a Network Member of the ICSU-WDS, ISES is committed to the free and open exchange of data and products, long-term data stewardship, compliance with agreed-upon data standards and conventions, and providing mechanisms to facilitate and improve access to data and services.

Article 5:

Through its members, ISES shares data and forecasts and provides space weather products and services to users in their regions. Products and services include but are not limited to: forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts of solar, magnetospheric, geomagnetic and ionospheric conditions; extensive space environment data; customer-focused event analyses; and long-range predictions of the solar cycle.

Chapter 3 (functions)

Article 6:

Functions of ISES include:

(a) to facilitate international communication and service coordination regarding space weather, particularly during periods of enhanced activity and in the event of extreme space weather, and promote standardization and harmonization of products and services among ISES members;

(b) to facilitate the improvement of space weather services and promote the understanding of space weather and its effects for users, researchers, the media, and the general public;

(c) to serve as a forum to share data, to exchange and compare forecasts, to discuss user needs, and to identify the highest priorities for improving services;

(d) to provide nowcasting and forecasting information of space weather via individual centers to mitigate the impact of space weather on technology, critical infrastructure, and human activities.

Article 7:

ISES and its members take an active role in the transition of scientific results into operational environments.

Article 8:

ISES prepares the International Geophysical Calendar (IGC) each year. This calendar gives a list of ‘World Days’ during which scientists are encouraged to carry out their experiments.

Article 9:

ISES sponsors meetings and establishes working groups to improve space weather service and to promote the understanding of space weather and its effects for users, researchers, the media, and the general public.

Chapter 4 (management)

Article 10:

ISES is managed by a Directing Board composed of the ISES officers and one nominated delegate from each Regional Warning Center. The Directing Board is led by an elected Director and meets annually.

Chapter 5 (directing board)

Article 11:

ISES officers consist of a Director, a Deputy Director, Secretary for World Days, Secretary for Space Weather, and Secretary for ISES Web Presence.

Paragraph 1: Candidates for office must be a working member of one of the ISES centers.

Paragraph 2: Officers are nominated and elected for four-year terms by the RWC representatives and can be re-elected.

Paragraph 3: The Director’s mandate is limited to two four-year terms.

Paragraph 4: If the office of Director becomes vacant, the Deputy Director shall act as Director until a formal election is completed.

Paragraph 5: The call for election of officers is done as required.

Article 12:

Duties of the Director include:

(a) Coordinate ISES activities;

(b) Organize and conduct business meetings;

(c) Serve as liaison with international organizations such as ICSU-WDS and the WMO;

(d) Facilitate the election process for new officers; and

(e) Publicize ISES at international meetings and through publications.

Article 13:

Duties of the Deputy Director include:

(a) Act in place of the Director as needed;

(b) Track the activities of the ISES centers and produce the ISES annual report;

(c) Schedule activities for selecting new members;

(d) Facilitate, or appoint a non-candidate to facilitate, the election process for a new Director; and

(e) Establish working groups for improving space weather services.

Article 14:

Duties of the Secretary for Space Weather include:

(a) Assist in the development of standard ISES products;

(b) Document and maintain the ISES standards for data and product exchange;

(c) Coordinate data interchange between centers; and

(d) Investigate new methods of data interchange.

Article 15:

Duties of the Secretary for World Days include:

(a) Produce and distribute the International Geophysical Calendar; and

(b) Solicit inputs from the scientific community for the International Geophysical Calendar.

Article 16:

Duties of the Secretary for the ISES Web Presence include:

(a) Maintain the ISES webpage www.spaceweather.org;

(b) Ensure member information is up-to-date, and;

(c) Monitor and report webpage activity and usage.

Article 17:

ISES strives to reach consensus among all Members and Officers on ISES decisions. If unanimous consent is not reached, a decision will be made by vote, with each RWC having one vote.

Paragraph 1: Voting is facilitated by the ISES Director or Deputy Director, and votes must be submitted within four weeks after the call for a vote is issued.

Paragraph 2: All RWCs have one vote on the above mentioned items regardless of their attendance at meetings, irrespective of the method of communication.

Paragraph 3: Issues voted on may only be successfully passed if there is agreement of a 2/3 majority of the RWCs that submit votes.

Paragraph 4: In the event a decision cannot be reached, the Director will cast the deciding vote. If necessary, additional meetings may be convened by the Director.

Article 18:

The ISES directing board and assembly meets annually. At this time, each officer will submit a written report outlining their activities throughout the year.

Article 19:

The resources to operate ISES are the responsibilities of its host institutions. The Directing Board decides the roles and responsibilities for the members of ISES. Members may resign by submitting written notice to the Director.

Article 20:

Duties of the ISES Directing Board include:

(a) Set the vision and develop the short-term plans and long-term goals of ISES;

(b) Develop new and improved methods of operation;

(c) Organize workshops to improve space weather services;

(d) Provide leadership in identifying research and product needs; and

(e) Revise the ISES Constitution and Bylaws as needed.

Chapter 6 (member responsibilities)

Article 21:

Regional Warning Centers (RWCs) are the institutions responsible for the coordination and exchange of information throughout the ISES network and are the primary distribution sites for products and services to the public. Duties of RWCs include:

(a) Collect and coordinate space environment data from their geographical area;

(b) Take a leadership role in communicating forecasts, watch, warning, and alert services with all affiliated AWCs and local users;

(c) Provide timely, free, exchange of data, information, and techniques with other members and affiliated institutions;

(d) Assist the public in understanding space weather;

(e) Assist users in space weather related activities;

(f) Nominate ISES officers; and

(g) Vote on formal decisions of ISES, new member applications, and election of ISES officers as described in Article 17.


Paragraph 1: All RWCs serve the needs of their local geographical areas but may also distribute products of broader or global interest.

Paragraph 2: All RWCs must be endorsed by their national government as their ISES space weather service provider, where each country is limited to one RWC.

Paragraph 3: All RWCs must allow timely, free exchange of data and products with other Members and the public.

Article 22:

Associate Warning Centers (AWCs) are institutions that fulfill many of the same functions as Members but must be affiliated with an existing RWC. AWCs allow the functions provided within a region to be distributed among multiple organizations. Duties of AWCs include:

(a) Collect and coordinate space environment data from their geographical area;

(b) Coordinate forecasts, watch, warning and alert services with their affiliated RWC;

(c) Provide timely, free, exchange of data, information, and techniques with other members and affiliated institutions;

(d) Strive to provide space weather forecasts, watch, warning and alert services for local users;

(e) Assist the public in understanding space weather; and

(f) Assist users in space weather related activities.


Paragraph 1: All AWCs serve the needs of their local geographical areas but may also distribute products of broader or global interest.

Paragraph 2: All AWCs must allow timely, free exchange of data and products with other Members and the public.

Paragraph 3: All AWCs must be affiliated with an existing RWC and coordinate their operations with that RWC.

Article 23:

Collaborative Expert Centers (CECs) are institutions that have a demonstrated expertise in space weather and conduct space weather service activities. CECs can be universities, national laboratories, consortia of organizations, or intergovernmental bodies. Duties of CECs include:

(a) Encourage and support the development of space weather services;

(b) Contribute expertise in space weather forecasts, watches, warnings and alerts.


Paragraph 1: All CECs must have demonstrated expertise in space weather services.

Paragraph 2: All CECs must promote timely, free exchange of data and products with other Members and the public.

Chapter 7 (new members)

Article 24:

Institutions may apply for membership by submitting a written proposal to the Director indicating their ability to comply with the ISES membership responsibilities (Chapter 6). After ensuring compliance, the Deputy Director submits the proposal to the Directing Board. RWC representatives will evaluate the applicant’s qualifications against the need for the service and provide its recommendation to the Director for action within three months of the date of request.

Chapter 8 (cooperation)

Article 25:

ISES and its members are involved in the international space weather community, and cooperate and interact with local and international agencies to accomplish ISES’s mission by encouraging appropriate research and development.

Chapter 9 (Amendments to the Constitution)

Article 26:

Any two RWCs of ISES may jointly propose amendments to this Constitution.

Article 27:

An amendment shall take effect if it is voted on and successfully passed in accordance with Article 17.