General embryological information service - HPS Repository

membership l )
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, particularly
where it borders upon genetics, biochemistry and biophysics, leads to
prevents the more isolated and scientifically less developed
the question whether the rather sharp borderlines between the various sections
of the I.U.B.S. are not to some extent disadvantageous to the development
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 scientific
meetings the I. I.E. is able to sponsor, and rigorously restricts the number
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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