304 



Early in 1952, invitations to participate were sent to member na- 

 tions of the ICSU, as well as to the U.S.S.R., which was not an ICSU 

 member. M The response to this initial solicitation was modest, largely 

 because many of the national academies were not greatly interested 

 in participating in a polar scientific activity. Several international 

 organizations, particularly the World Meteorological Organization 

 (WMO), the International Meteorological Association, and the Inter- 

 national Association of Terrestrial Magnetism and Electricity, took 

 the position that the TPY program placed too much emphasis upon 

 the polar regions and, instead, should be expanded to encompass 

 worldwide phenomena. 



The ICSU considered these suggestions for enlarging the scope of 

 the TPY, and Dr. Chapman proposed that the suggestions be adopted 

 with the name of the program changed to the International Geo- 

 physical Year. This change in name and scope was approved by the 

 ICSU general assembly in October 1952, to reflect the need for world- 

 wide synoptic observation and analysis. Followup notices, sent to 

 ICSU member countries and calling for participation in the IGY, 

 resulted in a much better response than had the initial invitation for a 

 TPY. One result of the improved response was that the original special 

 ICSU committee was enlarged and, early in July 1953, was renamed 

 the Comite Special de l'Annee Geophysique Internationale, or 

 CSAGI. At this time, Dr. Chapman was named president of the 

 CSAGI and Berkner vice president. One of the first decisions made 

 by the CSAGI was that the IGY would continue for 18 months, from 

 July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958, so as to include the entire period 

 of anticipated maximum solar activity. 



THE SCIENTIFIC RESPONSE 



The concept of an IGY, as opposed to a TPY, gained immediate 

 and widespread acceptance throughout the world scientific community. 

 Following the initial provisional meeting of the CSAGI in October 

 1952, five additional meetings were held, as listed in table 1, below: 



At the first meeting, 26 nations participated; at the second, 38 

 nations; at the fourth, 51 nations; and by the final meeting, 67 nations 

 were represented. 



The general spirit of the scientific community was summarized by 

 Berkner as follows: 



But most encouraging in all has been the genuine enthusiasm with which the 

 scientists of the earth, and the nations that support them, have embraced this pro- 

 gram. Tired of war and dissension, men of all nations have turned to "Mother 

 Earth" for a common effort on which all find it easy to agree. 24 



* Although not a member of the TC8TJ, the TJ.S.S.R. was a member of the IAU and also of the World 

 Meteorological Organization (WMO). Inasmuch as Soviet participation in any large-scale international 

 ■scientific undertaking was Important to the success of that event, the Soviets were also approached through 

 the IAU and WMO. 6 



"Lloyd V. Berkner, "International Scientific Action: The International Geophysical Year, 1957-58," 

 Science 119 (Apr. 30, 1954), p. 575. 



