Section on Environmental Sciences – Bylaws 

  • The name of the Section: The ISBA Section on Environmental Sciences (ISBA/EnviBayes)
  • Aims: The Section will:
    • facilitate exchanges between Bayesian statisticians operating in environmental sciences;
    • act as a connection point for field experts who recognize the potential of a Bayesian approach but are not yet trained in this discipline;
    • promote research in Bayesian methods in environmental sciences by organising conferences, workshops, and sessions in other meetings;
    • promote education in Bayesian methods in environmental sciences by developing short courses for students and practitioners; and
    • promote interactions among academic and environmental and public health organizations.
  • The offices, duties and terms of offices:
    • The offices are those of Chair, Chair-elect, Program chair, Treasurer and Secretary.
    • The Program chair, Treasurer and Secretary are elected by the membership for staggered two year terms. The Section Chair voted on each year and is installed through election to the office of Chair-elect. The electee serves for one year as Chair-elect followed by one year as Chair.
    • The elected officers constitute the ISBA/EnviBayes Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will follow the general policies established by the ISBA Board, and conduct the affairs of the Section between meetings of the Board. The Executive Committee will report to the Board at each Board meeting. The report can be in writing.
    • The Section Chair convenes and chairs meetings of the Executive Committee and the Section Membership. The duties of the secretary, treasurer and the program chair are as described in item 4.B through D of the ISBA constitution, but restricted to the Section. The Program chair additionally works, with the other members of the Executive Committee to organize short courses. Also in connection with EnviBayes short courses, the Secretary of the Section assists with general administrative matters and the Treasurer is involved in all decisions and administrative matters related to short course finances.
    • The right to enter into legal contracts for ISBA or ISBA/EnviBayes is vested solely in the ISBA Executive Committee and in all cases requiring formal approval requires the signature of the Section Chair.
    • How elections of Section officers are to be conducted: Officers are elected in the annual fall ISBA elections organized by ISBA. Each year, the Section members elect a member for the position of Chair-elect to take office the following January 1st; all other offices are open for election every two years. The chair is initially elected as chair-elect for one year, serving as chair the following year. Members will vote for the secretary during the odd-numbered year elections, with the secretary’s term beginning January 1st of the following even-numbered year; members will vote for the program chair and treasurer in even-numbered year elections, with their term beginning January 1st of the following odd-numbered year. The EnviBayes Section Nominating Committee has 3 members: the immediate past EnviBayes Section chair, who chairs this nominating committee, and 2 EnviBayes Section members.  These 2 EnviBayes members are chosen by the EnviBayes Executive Committee following solicitation of names and consultation with the EnviBayes membership. Only current Section members are eligible to be nominated. Only current Section members are eligible to vote. The terms for all officers starts on January 1 following the election.
    • How membership in the Section is defined: Any ISBA member who pays the Section membership fee is a member of the Section. The Section membership fee is set by  the EnviBayes Executive Committee and approved by the ISBA Board by resolution.
    • Finances and revenue: The Section will aim to ensure revenue neutrality with regard to its short courses and workshops/conferences. Funds from course fees and workshop/conference registrations, together with funds from other sources including ISBA and external sponsors, will be primarily used to offset costs and ensure participant support. Any surpluses generated will be retained by the Section to use in support of future courses and workshops/conferences.
    • The method of amendment of the bylaws: The Section Bylaws may be amended by majority vote in two successive Board meetings, with at least a two-week interval between the meetings. The Secretary submits yearly reports of Section activities to the ISBA Board. The Section will be considered inactive and dissolved by the ISBA Board by resolution if no report is submitted for 2 consecutive years, or no elections take place within 4 years. Provisions in the ISBA Bylaws and Constitution will apply in connection with any issues that are not specifically addressed in the Section Bylaws. In case of conflict, ISBA Bylaws and Constitution take precedence over the Section Bylaws. Section Bylaws take precedence over resolutions of the ISBA Board.