MEMBERSHIP DUTIES

Member Duties, Rights & Responsibilities

As a member of the International Research Council (IRC), national academies, research councils, scientific unions, and institutional fellows form the backbone of a global network dedicated to advancing scientific research for the benefit of humanity.

Active participation and commitment to governance, ethical conduct, and collaborative policy-making ensure that the IRC maintains its standing as an authoritative global voice for science.

Core Member Obligations

Every affiliated member organization and fellow agrees to uphold the values of the IRC Charter and carry out the following core responsibilities:

1. Active Scientific Governance & Voting

General Assembly Representation: Appoint designated delegates to participate and vote in the biennial IRC General Assembly.
Leadership Elections: Participate in electing members to the Governing Body, Executive Board, and Standing Committees.
Resolution Engagement: Review, deliberate, and vote on scientific resolutions, global research declarations, and policy updates.

2. Adherence to Ethical Standards & Open Science

Scientific Integrity: Uphold the IRC Global Code of Conduct for Research Integrity across all institutional research activities.
Academic Freedom: Active defense of scientific freedom, non-discrimination, and the responsible conduct of research.
Open Access & Data Sharing: Promote open science policies, transparent data sharing, and open-access publishing models within their respective jurisdictions.

3. Global Knowledge Sharing & Collaboration

Interdisciplinary Partnership: Collaborate on multi-regional research initiatives addressing global challenges (e.g., climate resilience, global health, sustainable technology).
Expert Contribution: Nominate qualified experts to IRC task forces, advisory panels, and scientific review committees.
Global Equity Support: Assist in capacity-building programs aimed at supporting early-career researchers and science institutions in developing nations.

4. Financial & Administrative Compliance

Annual Dues Payment: Remit annual membership contributions punctually, based on the approved assessment category scale.
Institutional Updates: Maintain up-to-date registry details regarding key contact persons, delegates, and leadership changes within the organization.
Annual Activity Reporting: Submit a concise annual overview of institutional contributions to global research and IRC-aligned initiatives.

Member Rights & Privileges

In exchange for fulfilling these duties, members gain access to exclusive governance privileges and international research frameworks:

Membership Privilege	Description
Governance Voting	Direct voting rights on IRC charter amendments, budgets, and leadership elections.
Global Grant Networks	Eligibility to apply for and partner on IRC-sponsored multilateral research grants.
Policy Influence	Direct input into global policy briefs submitted to multilateral bodies like the UN and UNESCO.
IRC Delegate Credentials	Access to exclusive international summits, closed-door forums, and research symposiums.

Annual Membership Lifecycle

                           +------------------------------------+
                           |    Q1: Annual Dues Settlement      |
                           | & Contact Information Verification |
                           +-----------------+------------------+
                                             |
                                             v
                           +------------------------------------+
                           |   Q2: Nominations Open for IRC     |
                           |  Committees & Research Task Forces |
                           +-----------------+------------------+
                                             |
                                             v
                           +------------------------------------+
                           |  Q3: Submission of Annual Activity |
                           |    Report & Policy Proposals       |
                           +-----------------+------------------+
                                             |
                                             v
                           +------------------------------------+
                           |  Q4: General Assembly Meetings &   |
                           |    Voting on Global Resolutions    |
                           +------------------------------------+

Member Compliance & Code of Conduct

Failure to maintain membership obligations—including prolonged non-payment of dues or violations of scientific ethics—may result in a review by the Committee for Freedom & Responsibility in Science (CFRS).

Grace Period: Members experiencing temporary financial constraints may request a formal dues deferral through the Secretariat.
Status Review: Non-active members who fail to participate in General Assembly votes or remit dues for two consecutive cycles may face suspension of voting rights.

Member Support & Secretariat Contact

For questions regarding membership status, delegate registration, or submitting committee nominations:

Member Relations Secretariat: secretariat@internationalresearchcouncil.com
Governance & Policy Submissions: secretariat@internationalresearchcouncil.com