membership l ) prevents the more isolated and scientifically less developed 

 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America from being represented to any 

 extent in the I. I.E. In the interest of stimulating modern research in these parts 

 of the world, the admission of "associate members" may be considered. 



The rapidly developing specialisation within the field of embryology, partic- 

 ularly where it borders upon genetics, biochemistry and biophysics, leads to 

 the question whether the rather sharp borderlines between the various sec- 

 tions of the I.U.B.S. are not to some extent disadvantageous to the develop- 

 ment of the science of biology as a whole. In this respect a more pronounced 

 overlapping of membership may be advisable. In this way in any section 

 also the related disciplines would be represented by at least some specialists. 

 On the other hand, the present subdivision of the I.U.B.S. may be revised in 

 the near future 2 ) in order to avoid unnatural separations in the science of 

 biology. As far as the I. I.E. is concerned, its principal aim should be the 

 stimulation of co-operation and synthesis of the various disciplines within 

 the field of development biology. To this end this field should be taken in its 

 widest possible sense. 



Finally there is still another aspect which requires further consideration. 

 The financial means which the I. I.E. finds at its disposal, are undoubtedly 

 too restricted for its international activities. This limits the number of scien- 

 tific meetings the I. I.E. is able to sponsor, and rigorously restricts the num- 

 ber of invited speakers. Up till now the I.I.E. always had to depend upon 

 national funds as far as the more general and social aspects of its meetings 

 were concerned, which implies that financially less powerful countries 

 remained deprived of these stimulating scientific manifestations 3 ). 



In conclusion we may say that, provided the I.I.E. actually succeeds in 

 forming the binding cement for all the disciplines, old and new, in the field of 

 developmental biology, it may face the future with confidence, and, on entering 

 upon its second half-century, may be accompanied with the best of wishes 4 ). 



The Adjunct Secretary-treasurer, 

 P. D. NIEUWKOOP 



x ) the requisite being a minimal period of about ten years of active research in the field of 

 developmental biology. 



2 ) At the last General Assembly of the I.U.B.S. the name of the Embryological Section was 

 changed into "Section of Development Biology", a change indicating an extension of its 

 activities to the entire field of biology. 



3 ) Up till now international congresses could only be organised in the U.S.A., where funds 

 can be made available from private foundations and governmental scientific institutions. 



4 ) In June 1961, the actual month of the celebration of the 50th anniversary, the text of this 

 article was sent to all fellows and members of the I.I.E. 



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