Members

Two categories of members exist: Regular members and Associated members (list of members). Regular members are laboratories, institutes or university departments primarily devoted to fundamental marine science and possessing coastal research facilities. Associated members are scientific organisations without research facilities at the coast, but with marine research interests. Such organisations need to appeal for MARS associated membership through a regular member to which they become associated.

The MARS Network is a foundation with specific statutes and bylaws.

Only directors, or their delegates, from regular members do have voting rights at general and director meetings. The Executive Board can co-opt members for specific purposes. One of the co-opted members shall be the Executive Secretary to be proposed by UNESCO Venice.

Co-opted members can be appointed on the basis of being: 1) editor of the Newsletter, 2) co-ordinators of major MARS related scientific projects, 3) responsible for other duties strongly related to MARS. Co-opted members have, once invited, the same rights and duties as the regular members of the steering committee.

Membership subscription-fees are:

• 150 euros for labs with less than 20 total personnel
• 250 euros for labs with between 20-50 total personnel
• 500 euros for labs with more than 50 total personnel

There is no membership fee for associated members.

The benefits and activities that you may expect of the MARS Network membership are:

• Supporting the marine stations as an important part of Europe's scientific patrimonium
• Creating awareness of the role of the marine stations
• Improved personal and institutional relationships between member institutes
• Contacts with the managers of European research, including:
  • the European Science Foundation (ESF) in Strasbourg
  • UNESCO in Paris
  • the Commission of the European Communities in Brussels
• Symposia and workshops organized by the MARS executive and member institutes
• Exchange of personnel
• Involvement in research proposals (MARS already generated about 1.3 M€ in project money that went mainly to its members)
• Participating in networking in the 6th EC framework Programme
• Help for institutes with currency restrictions, e.g. in Eastern Europe
• Grants for young scientists from MARS member laboratories to visit another MARS member laboratory

Those who are interested in becoming a member, please contact the executive secretary Herman Hummel.