1. Aims.

    InterMARGINS is an international and interdisciplinary initiative concerned with all aspects of continental margins research into the solid earth. It aims to encourage scientific and logistical co-ordination, with particular focus on problems that cannot be addressed as efficiently by nations or national institutions acting alone or in limited partnerships.

2. Membership.

• 2.1    In each country, the member of InterMARGINS shall be the national organisation or national grouping of researchers that pays the annual InterMARGINS membership subscription.
• 2.2    Members shall be composed of Principal Members, Associate and Assistant Members.
• 2.3    Principal Membership will offer the following advantages: guaranteed one designated voting member of the Steering Committee, opportunity to host the InterMARGINS Office and to provide the Steering Committee Chairman, guaranteed membership of all Working Groups including Chairs of such Groups, priority entitlement to InterMARGINS sponsorship of conference and workshop costs, entitlement to receive all information, newsletters and data catalogues.
• 2.4    Associate and Assistant Memberships will offer the following advantages: guaranteed one designated non-voting member of the Steering Committee, guaranteed membership of all Working Groups, limited entitlement to InterMARGINS sponsorship of conference and workshop costs, entitlement to receive all information, newsletters and data catalogues.
• 2.5    Assistant Membership will be presented to the developing countries with economies in transition.
• 2.6    Membership will automatically cease when a due annual subscription remains unpaid for more than 6 months, unless deferment for a single fixed term is agreed by a majority of the Steering Committee.
• 2.7    The level of annual subscription for founding Principal Members (Japan, UK and USA) is US $15,000. The level of annual subscription for all other Principal Members is US $10,000. The level of annual subscription for Associate Members is US $5,000 and Assistant Members is US $1,000. According to the needs of InterMARGINS, subscriptions will be reviewed annually with the ultimate aim of all Principal Members paying the same rate.

3. Steering Committee

• 3.1    InterMARGINS shall be directed by a Steering Committee that consists of the designated representatives of the Principal and Associate Members and is normally chaired by the Director of the InterMARGINS Office. The Steering Committee will normally meet twice a year at times and places to be mutually agreed.
• 3.2    The Steering Committee will normally operate by consensus.
• 3.3    In the absence of the designated Chairman the Committee shall elect a temporary Chairman, for the duration of the meeting, from among the Members present.
• 3.4    In the case of a vote being taken only those designated members who represent Principal Members and who are present may vote. In the event of a tie the Chairman shall retain a casting vote.
• 3.5    Guests from candidate member countries, and others as appropriate on an ad hoc basis, may be invited by the Chairman to attend Steering Committee meetings in an observer capacity.
• 3.6    The InterMARGINS Steering Committee will co-ordinate and promote InterMARGINS activities. In addition it will,
  
  • 3.6.1    Accept or decline applications to membership of InterMARGINS.
    
  • 3.6.2    Define, and from time to time re-assess and, if necessary, update revise, the Programme Plan.
    
  • 3.6.3    Propose, oversee and, if necessary, financially support specific activities that fall within the Programme Plan.
    
  • 3.6.4    Consider and prioritise proposals for new Programme Plan elements, sponsorship, workshops and other appropriate activities.
    
  • 3.6.5    Set up, and close down, Sub-Committees and Working Groups determine the membership of InterMARGINS and, approve their Terms of Reference and membership.
    
  • 3.6.6    Approve the InterMARGINS budget.
    
  • 3.6.7    Oversee the operation of the InterMARGINS Office.
    
  • 3.6.8    Select the Chairman and host institution for the InterMARGINS Office.
    

4. InterMARGINS Office

• 4.1    The InterMARGINS Office will normally be sited at the workplace of the Chairman of the Steering Committee, who will have day-to-day responsibility for running the Office, subject to the overall approval of the Steering Committee. Personnel will be appointed to the Office according to the workload and available budget and subject to the agreement of the Steering Committee.
• 4.2    The functions of the InterMARGINS Office are to,
  
  • 4.2.1    Encourage international scientific and logistical co-ordination of all aspects of continental margins research into the solid earth.
    
  • 4.2.2    Seek new members of InterMARGINS
    
  • 4.2.3    Communicate and exchange information with Steering Committee members and National Correspondents.
    
  • 4.2.4    Regularly service and update the InterMARGINS web site.
    
  • 4.2.5    Compile and keep a directory of interested margins scientists.
    
  • 4.2.6    Prepare and publish the InterMARGINS Newsletter twice a year.
    
  • 4.2.7    Set up and operate meetings of the Steering Committee twice a year.
    
  • 4.2.8    Respond to Actions agreed by the Steering Committee.
    
  • 4.2.9    Manage, and account to the Steering Committee for, the Programme budget.
    
  • 4.2.10    Report regularly to the Steering Committee on Office activities.
    
  • 4.2.11    Provide and circulate Minutes of Steering Committee meetings to all meeting attendees.
    
• 4.3    The InterMARGINS Office and Chairmanship will normally rotate among the Principal Members every three years. The Steering Committee will normally choose the next host country and the Chairman on the basis of offers made by the Principal Members.

5. National Correspondents.

• 5.1    Non-member countries that send observers to Steering Committee meetings will be invited to appoint an InterMARGINS National Correspondent to provide the principal point of contact, on a day-to-day basis, between researchers in that country and the InterMARGINS Office.
• 5.2    Steering Committee members are expected to maintain appropriate formal relationships with agencies and individual researchers in their countries through whatever mechanisms are determined at national level.

6. Changes to the Constitution.

    Proposed changes to the Constitution, including Section 2.7, must be received from Steering Committee members by the Chairman in writing or by email at least 2 months in advance of a Steering Committee meeting and can only be approved by a majority vote of the Steering Committee.

7. Termination.

    In the event that the Steering Committee decides by a majority vote to terminate the InterMARGINS Programme the balance of any funds remaining will be spent, as determined by a majority of the Steering Committee present when the termination vote takes place, to further margins research internationally and will not be returned to member countries.