![]() |
A
Message from the President of IUTOX, Ali Esat Karakaya (June 2007)
Dear IUTOX Member,
As members of the 2004–2007 IUTOX Executive Committee (EC) we are in the last month of our term. This will be my last communication to you as IUTOX President. A new IUTOX EC will be elected at the IUTOX General Assembly to be held in Montreal on the 18th of July 2007. Prof. Robert Kroes, who had been elected as the President-elect at the Tampere General Assembly in July 2004, was to replace me as the President this July. I had the opportunity to work with the IUTOX EC for over two years with this extraordinary man who had an outstanding professional career. Unfortunately and tragically, Bobby, as everyone knew him, lost his battle with cancer on December 28, 2006. The world’s toxicological community shall longingly remember Bobby, who was an enthusiastic, charming, and witty man with an exceptional personality. Having lost him, a new president will have to be elected at the Montreal meeting.
Meanwhile, the international toxicological community will get together at the “XI International Congress of Toxicology (ICT)” scheduled 5-19 July 2007. I hope that many of you have already signed up and will have the opportunity to participate in this important congress. The theme of the ICT XI meeting: "Toxicology: Discovery Serving Society” emphasizes the role of toxicology as a scientific force for the betterment of the conditions of life for humanity. As a scientific discipline, toxicology is becoming a critical tool for making the best decisions to protect human health and the environment. I believe that, not only the quality of the scientific program of this congress, but also the scientific communication and the interaction of over two thousand toxicologists from all corners of the world will make a significant contribution to the aforementioned global function of toxicology. Let me also note that, besides its excellent scientific program, the Montreal congress provides a rich social program. There are many attractions and activities for the delegates and their families. ICT XI will surely be a memorable event for all participants. If you have not registered yet, please consider that it is still possible to do so.
The General Assembly, which is the highest governing body of IUTOX and which is composed of the representatives (Councilors) of the member societies, meets during the ICTs that are held triennially. At the 2007 IUTOX General Assembly, we shall inform the General Assembly of the activities of the IUTOX EC in the 2004–2007 term and solicit the views of the Councilors regarding these activities. Let me point out that you may obtain detailed information regarding all these activities from the biannual IUTOX Electronic Newsletters edited by the Secretary-General Wallace Hayes.
We are pleased to report that the objectives in the IUTOX Strategic Plan set at the beginning of our term have been actualized as had been planned. Let me mention some of them:
- IUTOX has continued to grow as a global organization. Five toxicological societies have become members in this term, namely Academy of Toxicological Sciences,Austrian Society of Toxicology,Cuban Societyof Toxicology, Portuguese Pharmacological Society, and Ukrainian Toxicology Society. We, as the IUTOX EC, once again, would like to say welcome. The IUTOX family has become richer and IUTOX has become stronger by the inclusion these new societies.
- In the 2004-2007 period, for the first time ever, Institutional Members have started to become a part of the IUTOX. We now have nine institutional members, but their numbers are expected to increase in the coming months. At present, the IUTOX Treasurer, Alexander Buerkle, is continuing communication with several new candidates.
- In line with one of the general objectives of IUTOX, “Capacity building in toxicology, particularly in developing countries,“ the 6th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries (6th CTDC) was successfully held in Croatia as an integrated meeting with the 43rd Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology. Sun City, South Africa has been selected by vote of the member societies as the venue for 7th CDTC to be held in 2009 and work regarding the organization of this congress has already started in cooperation with the South African Society.
- Fellowships have been provided to 83 junior and senior scientists from 29 developing countries to support their participation in the IUTOX congresses and the SOT meetings in the 2004–2007 period. Meanwhile, we have continued to extend financial support to meetings held in developing countries in the context of the “IUTOX-Sponsored Lecturers Program.” However, in spite of the fact that the present EC has attached much importance to this program, because of budgetary limitations, we have been unable to extend as much financial support as we had wished.
- We have prepared SOPs for “Executive Committee Works,” “Nominating Process,” and ”ICT and CTDC Congresses” so that IUTOX activities may be conducted on the basis of ”Standard Operational Procedures” and we have also prepared guidelines for other IUTOX activities.
- The flagship of IUTOX is the “International Congress of Toxicology.” IUTOX has worked in close cooperation with the Society of Toxicology Canada for the organization of the ICT XI Montreal 2007 Meeting. Meanwhile, work has already started for the preparation of the ICT XII Barcelona 2010 Meeting.
- The Risk Assessment Summer School (RASS), which is under the leadership of Torbjörn Malmfors and has been held since 1985, and was made annually available to participants rather than biannually, beginning in 2004. It has been a reason for celebration that this important IUTOX activity is now more frequent and thus more effective. Between 2004–2007, seventy five young postdoctoral toxicologists participated in RASS. Thirty one of them from nineteen developing countries have been funded by the RASS organization to take part in this unique opportunity.
- The outgoing EC has decided to suggest to the new IUTOX EC that the "Task Force for Harmonization of the Certification/Registration of Toxicologists" and the "Task Force for the Enhancement of the Appreciation and Image of Toxicology," which were founded in 2004, should continue work during the 2007–2010 term. While much has already been accomplished by these task forces, both areas involve long-term goals and commitments. In particular, as regards to “the enhancement of the world-wide image of toxicology,” the targeted long-term goals encompass the terms of all future ECs.
- The budgetary bottleneck has been the most important problem we have faced in our term. Although IUTOX expenditures have been minimized and although we have forgone some activities in order to save money, the IUTOX budget has yielded deficits. These deficits, and the loss of net-worth they imply, are not sustainable. While one of the major revenue sources of global professional unions is congress profits, the size of revenues yielded by the IUTOX Congresses during the past congresses have been below expectations, causing deficits. Therefore, it may be necessary to make some fundamental changes regarding the ICT and CTDC budgets so as to increase profits yielded by the IUTOX congresses and to do this it may be useful to look into the practices of similar international scientific organizations that obtain substantial profits from their congresses. Other than this, we will try to balance the budget through: (i) increasing income through a new dues structure for member societies, (ii) recruiting many more institutional members, and (iii) cutting back on expenditures.
And here are the two most important items on the agenda of the 2007 Montreal General Assembly:
- Elect the venues for the ICT XIII (2013) and the 8CTDC (2012). Mexico City (Mexico) and Seoul (Korea) are the candidate cities for ICT XIII; while Bangkok (Thailand) and Thiruvananthapuram (India) are the candidates for 8CTDC.
- Elect the IUTOX EC members (President, President Elect, Vice President, Secretary General, Treasurer and five directors). The slate of twenty distinguished candidates from 12 countries was painstakingly prepared by the IUTOX Nomination Committee, and has already been sent to the councilors.
It is with great pleasure and confidence that we hand over the responsibility for leading the Union to the newly elected EC. I am sure that our organization will continue to develop under the leadership of those who are newly elected.
Finally, serving as a president for this global organization has been the most gratifying and rewarding experience of my professional life. I would therefore like to thank all my IUTOX friends for their collaboration, warm friendship and the honor of having worked with them. I would also like to thank the IUTOX Executive Director, Mrs. Shawn Lamb for her hard work and dedication which has ensured the smooth operation of this great society.
I am looking forward to meeting you in Montreal.
With my best regards.
Ali Esat Karakaya Ph.D., ATS IUTOX President (2004–2007)
Archive of Presidential
Messages
|
