The U.S. mathematical and phycial sciences communities are represented by the Naitonal Academy of Sciences (NAS) in seven international scientific unions: the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the International Radio Science Union (URSI), the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP), the International Commission for Optics (ICO), the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr), and the International Mathematical Union (IMU). U.S. National Committees (USNC's), staffed by the NAS, will: lead U.S. preparations for meetings of the corresponding international unions and for scientific conferences, symposia, and workshops organized by these unions to identify research topics, issues, and programs of interest to their specific disciplines; identify and support U.S. scientists to participate in union activities; and arrange for payment of U.S. dues to the seven unions. Two overarching objectives of this activity are to: (a) forge new or stronger relationships within the U.S. research communities to engage them more fully in international scientific challenges and opportunities; and (b) build new synergies among the USNC's for the seven unions to develop cross-disciplinary activities and address common international issues in the mathematical and physical sciences.
