International Union of Speleology

Scientific non-governmental organization

International Union of SpeleologyAbbreviation| UIS

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Formation| 1965; 59 years ago (1965)
Type| INGO
Headquarters| Titov trg 2, Postojna, Slovenia

Region served

| Worldwide
Membership| 58 countries

Official language

| English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish[1]

President

| Nadja Zupan-Hajna (Slovenia)

Vice-President

| Zdeněk Motyčka (Czech Republic), Nivaldo Colzato (Brazil)

General Secretary

| Johannes Mattes (Austria)

Parent organization

| International Science Council (ISC)
Website| UIS Official website

International Union of Speleology (French: Union Internationale de Spéléologie, UIS) is a scientific non-governmental organization dedicated to the international promotion and coordination of cave and karst research.[2] Founded in 1965, UIS is a member of the International Science Council in Paris and cooperates with UNESCO.[3] In 2021–2022, UIS organized the International Year of Caves and Karst.[4]

## History

[edit]

In 1949, the international speleological community, then mostly Europeans, agreed in a meeting in Valence-sur-Rhone, France, to hold international speleological congresses beginning in Paris in 1953. These efforts continued during the Cold War. At the 4th International Congress of Speleology in Postojna/Ljubljana in 1965, a group of speleologists proposed to establish an association that would bring together scientists and cavers on both sides of the Iron Curtain and coordinate their activities. At the closing ceremony of this congress, the UIS was finally launched. However, the confirmation of its organization and statutes did not take place until the following congress in Stuttgart in 1969.[5][6]

### International Congresses of Speleology

[edit]

Meetings have been held in the following years:[7]

* 1953: Paris (France)
* 1958: Bari (Italy)
* 1961: Vienna, Obertraun, Salzburg (Austria)
* 1965: Postojna, Ljubljana (Yugoslavia)
* 1969: Stuttgart (Germany)

* 1973: Olomouc (Czechoslovakia)
* 1977: Sheffield (Great Britain)
* 1981: Bowling Green (United States)
* 1986: Barcelona (Spain)
* 1989: Budapest (Hungary)

* 1993: Beijing (China)
* 1997: La Chaux-des-Fonds (Switzerland)
* 2001: Brasilia (Brazil)
* 2005: Kalamos (Greece)
* 2009: Kerrville (United States)

* 2013: Brno (Czech Republic)
* 2017: Sydney (Australia)
* 2022: Le Bourget-du-Lac (France)

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## Structure

[edit]

The main body of the UIS is the General Assembly, which is composed of delegates from 58 member countries and meets every four years on the occasion of the International Congresses on Speleology. The voting delegates to the General Assembly are sent by the national scientific societies and associations.[8]

At present, the UIS is presided over by a Bureau, which consists of an executive committee of five officers (President, two Vice Presidents, General Secretary, and Treasurer), who are joined on the Bureau by seven Adjunct Secretaries. Each Bureau member must be from a different country. These Bureau members are elected at the General Assemblies for a period of four years. The Bureau is assisted by an Advisory Committee, consisting mostly of the past presidents and other past officers.[9]

UIS activities take place in a number of commissions and working groups, such as the UIS Informatics Commission formed in 1986, the Speleotherapy Commission or the Karst Hydrogeology and Speleogenesis Commission.[10] Other UIS undertakings include the Speleological Abstracts (SA/BBS),[11] an annual survey of the world's speleological literature, or the Karst Information Portal (KIP),[12] an open-access digital library on karst environments.

### List of presidents

[edit]

Of the 12 past presidents in office, 10 have been male:[13]

* 1965-1973: Bernard Gèze (France)
* 1973-1981: Arrigo A. Cigna (Italy)
* 1981-1986: Adolfo Eraso Romero (Spain)
* 1986-1989: Derek C. Ford (Canada)

* 1989-1993: Hubert Trimmel (Austria)
* 1993-1997: Paolo Forti (Italy)
* 1997-2001: Julia Mary James (Australia)
* 2002-2005: José Ayrton Labegalini (Brazil)

* 2005-2013: Andrew Eavis (Great Britain)
* 2013-2017: Kyung Sik Woo (Republic of Korea)
* 2017-2022: George Veni (United States)
* since 2022: Nadja Zupan-Hajna (Slovenia)

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### List of general secretaries

[edit]

Former general secretaries:[14]

* 1965-1969: Albert Anavy (Lebanon)
* 1969-1989: Hubert Trimmel (Austria)

* 1989-1993: Camile Ek (Belgium)
* 1993-2005: Pavel Bosák (Czech Republic)

* 2005-2022: Fadi Nader (Lebanon)
* since 2022: Johannes Mattes (Austria)

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## Publications

[edit]

Since 1978, UIS publishes the International Journal of Speleology.[15]

## Further reading

[edit]

* Labegalini, José Ayrton; et al. (2015-06-01). Fifty years of the UIS. 1965–2015. Založba ZRC. ISBN 9789612547851.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Statutes of International Union of Speleology (UIS)". 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
2. ^ "What is the UIS? – UIS". Retrieved 2022-12-30.
3. ^ "International Union of Speleology (UIS)". International Science Council. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
4. ^ "IYCK – International Year of Caves and Karst". Retrieved 2022-12-30.
5. ^ "What is the UIS? – UIS". Retrieved 2022-12-30.
6. ^ International Union of Speleology (2015). Fifty years of the UIS : 1965-2015. Jose Ayrton Labegalini, Arrigo A. Cigna, Linda Gentry El-Dash, Collegium graphicum) (1st ed., 1st print-run ed.). Ljubljana: Založba ZRC. ISBN 978-961-254-785-1. OCLC 922861277.
7. ^ "Proceedings of the International Congress of Speleology (ICS) – UIS". Retrieved 2022-12-30.
8. ^ International Union of Speleology (2015). Fifty years of the UIS : 1965-2015. Jose Ayrton Labegalini, Arrigo A. Cigna, Linda Gentry El-Dash, Collegium graphicum) (1st ed., 1st print-run ed.). Ljubljana: Založba ZRC. ISBN 978-961-254-785-1. OCLC 922861277.
9. ^ "What is the UIS? – UIS". Retrieved 2022-12-30.
10. ^ "UIS Commissions and Working Groups – UIS". Retrieved 2022-12-30.
11. ^ www.OG-S.ch, Odile Georgallides. "Speleological Abstracts (BBS/SA)". Bibliothèque de la Société Suisse de Spéléologie. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
12. ^ "Karst Information Portal | University of South Florida Research | Digital Commons @ University of South Florida". digitalcommons.usf.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
13. ^ "Past Members – UIS". Retrieved 2022-12-30.
14. ^ "Past Members – UIS". Retrieved 2022-12-30.
15. ^ "International Journal of Speleology – UIS". Retrieved 2022-12-30.

## External links

[edit]

* International Union of Speleology (UIS).
* UIS History Video, 1965-2015

* v
* t
* e

International Science Council (ISC)

National
members|

* Albania
* Angola
* Argentina
* Armenia
* Australia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Bangladesh
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Benin
* Bolivia
* Bosnia & Herzegovina
* Republika Srpska
* Botswana
* Brazil
* ANPOCS
* Bulgaria
* Burkina Faso
* Cameroon
* Canada
* SSHRC
* Chile
* China
* CASS
* Colombia
* Costa Rica
* Côte d'Ivoire
* Cuba
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Dominican Republic
* Egypt
* El Salvador
* Estonia
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Ghana
* Greece
* Guatemala
* Honduras
* Hungary
* India
* ICSSR
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Ireland
* Israel
* Italy
* Jamaica
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Kenya
* North Korea
* South Korea
* KSSRC
* KAST
* Laos
* Latvia
* Lebanon
* Lesotho
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Malaysia
* Mauritius
* Mexico
* COMECSO
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Mongolia
* Montenegro
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Nepal
* Netherlands
* New Zealand
* Nigeria
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* UB
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Panama
* Peru
* Philippines
* PSSC
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Rwanda
* Saudi Arabia
* Senegal
* Serbia
* Seychelles
* Singapore
* Slovak Republic
* Slovenia
* South Africa
* HSRC
* Spain
* Sri Lanka
* Sudan
* SNAS
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Switzerland
* Taiwan
* Tajikistan
* Tanzania
* Thailand
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Turkey
* Science Academy
* TÜBİTAK
* Uganda
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* British Academy
* ESRC
* United States
* Uruguay
* Uzbekistan
* Vatican City
* Venezuela
* Vietnam
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe
* RCZ

Transnational
members|

* ACSS
* AASSREC
* CASS
* CLACSO
* CODESRIA
* FLACSO
* UAI
* OSSREA
* USP

Unions and
associations|

* 4S
* IALS
* IASSA
* IAU
* ICA
* IEA
* IFSM
* IGU
* IMU
* INQUA
* IPRA
* IPSA
* ISA
* ISEE
* ISPRS
* IUBMB
* IUBS
* IUCr
* IUFoST
* IUFRO
* IUGG
* IUGS
* IUHPST
* IUIS
* IUMRS
* IUMS
* IUNS
* IUPAB
* IUPAC
* IUPAP
* IUPESM
* IUPHAR
* IUPS
* IUPsyS
* IUSS
* IUSSP
* IUTAM
* IUTOX
* URSI
* WAPOR
* WAU

Affiliated
members|

* AAS
* AASSA
* ACSS
* ASTC
* CIE
* EADI
* ECPR
* FIG
* GYA
* IAAP
* IAHR
* IASC
* ICA
* ICIAM
* ICLAS
* ICO
* ICSTI
* IFDO
* IFIP
* IFLA
* IFS
* IIASA
* ISA
* ISDE
* IUVSTA
* IWA
* PSA
* SSRC
* TNI
* TWAS
* UIS

* v
* t
* e

Subterranea

Natural features|

| Types|

* Alcove
* Ant colony
* Aquifer
* Burrow
* Burrow fossil
* Communal burrow
* Paleoburrow
* Cave
* Glacier cave
* Grotto
* Ice cave
* Lava cave
* Lava tube
* Pit Cave
* Show cave
* Solutional cave
* Talus cave
* Cenote
* Karst
* Lava tree mold
* Magma chamber
* Maternity den
* Nest
* Bee
* Pit crater
* Rock shelter
* Sinkhole
* Subterranean fauna
* Subterranean river
* Subterranean waterfall
* Underground lake
* Volcanic pipe
* Warren

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Exemplars|

* Balve Cave
* Castellana Caves
* Hang Sơn Đoòng
* Jewel Cave National Monument
* Kazumura Cave
* Lechuguilla Cave
* Mammoth Cave National Park
* Reed Flute Cave
* Subterranean rivers of London
* Veryovkina Cave
* Wind Cave National Park

Man-made features|

| Types|

* Air raid shelter
* Basement
* Burial vault
* Borehole
* Bunker
* Blast shelter
* Catacombs
* Casemate
* Crypt Mausoleum
* Dungeon
* Dugout (shelter)
* Dry well
* Earth shelter
* Erdstall
* Fallout shelter
* Fogou
* Foxhole
* Hypogeum
* Manhole
* Mine
* Missile launch facility
* Passage grave
* Quarry
* Rock-cut tomb
* Root cellar
* Tunnel
* Utility vault
* Underground city
* Underground base
* Underground hangar
* Well
* Wine cave
* Subway system
* Secret passage
* Semi-basement
* Sewerage
* Septic tank
* Stepwell
* Storm cellar
* Smuggling tunnel
* Spider hole
* Ventilation shaft

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Exemplars|

* 816 Nuclear Military Plant
* Caves of Maastricht
* The Caves of Ægissíða
* Almadén Mercury Mines
* Coober Pedy
* Cheyenne Mountain Complex
* Chicago Tunnel Company
* Houston tunnel system
* Kosvinsky Kamen
* Kőbánya cellar system
* Kome Caves
* Underground City (Beijing)
* Underground City, Montreal
* Underground Great Wall of China
* Maginot Line
* Mines of Paris
* Mustang Caves
* Mount Yamantau
* Mogao Caves
* Naples underground geothermal zone
* North American Aerospace Defense Command
* Raven Rock Mountain Complex
* Shanghai tunnels
* Subterranean London
* Subterranean Toledo
* Turda Salt Mines
* Yaodong

Fictional features|

| Types|

* Hollow Earth
* Subterranean fiction

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Exemplars|

* Allegory of the cave
* Batcave
* Greek Underworld
* Journey to the Center of the Earth
* Moria (Middle-earth)
* Nome Kingdom
* Pellucidar
* Subterranea (comics)
* Tunnels in popular culture
* Underdark
* Underland (Narnia)
* Wonderland (fictional country)

Organisations|

* American Society of Reclamation Sciences
* Bergamt
* Cave Research Foundation
* History of hard rock miners' organizations
* National Mine Map Repository
* National Mining Association
* National Speleological Society
* Grotto
* Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
* Institution of Mining Engineers
* International Union of Speleology
* Research Centre for Deep Drilling
* Society of Economic Geologists
* Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

Related topics|

* Cave conservation
* Cave dweller
* Cave diving
* Cave gate
* Cave rescue
* Cave painting
* Caving
* Civil defense
* Tunnel warfare
* Tunnel network
* Trench warfare
* Underground construction
* Tunnel construction
* Underground living
* Mine rescue
* Mine exploration
* Mining engineering
* Mole people
* in fiction
* Speleology
* Subterranean warfare

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Israel

Other|

* IdRef

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