The English version is for your reference only, and the Chinese text will prevail in the case of any doubts or disputes.

Constitution of the Biophysical Society of China

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 The society is named Biophysical Society of China (BSC) in English (BSC for short).

Article 2 The BSC, voluntarily organized by the country’s biophysical workers under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, is a public nonprofit academic organization registered as a legal person according to law. It is an integral part of the China Association for Science and Technology, as well as an important social force behind the development of the country’s scientific and technological undertakings.

Article 3 The goals of BSC: To abide by the constitution, laws, regulations and national policies; to observe social morals and customs, promote dialectical materialism, and adhere to the scientific attitude of using facts to seek the truth; to conscientiously implement the Party’s line, the policy of “letting a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend”, and the principle of integrating theory with practice; to uphold the principle of democracy in running the BSC, give full play to academic democracy, and organize free discussions of academic issues; to unite and organize biophysical workers and work towards the prosperity and further development of biophysical technology, for the cultivation and improvement of talents in biophysical science and technology, and for economic and social development; to serve science and technology workers, as well as improve the public’s scientific culture; to encourage respect for labor, knowledge, talent and creativity, and promote the spirit of “dedication, innovation, truth-seeking and cooperation”; to promote the socialist material civilization, political civilization and spiritual civilization for the building of a harmonious socialist society, and strive for the great rejuvenation of China.

Article 4 The BSC is guided, supervised and administrated by its supervisor, the China Association for Science and Technology, and by the state administrative department for the registration of societies, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.

Article 5 The address of BSC: 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing (located in the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences), 100101.

Chapter II Service Scope

Article 6 The BSC primarily offers the following services centering on the discipline of biophysics and related fields:

(I) It actively organizes national academic exchanges in biophysics; promotes independent innovation; and organizes and promotes interdisciplinary penetration and cooperation;

(II) It conducts international academic exchanges in biophysics, and develops friendly relationships with overseas biophysical workers and organizations;

(III) It edits and publishes academic publications in biophysics;

(IV) It takes charge of popularizing biophysical knowledge;

(V) It actively puts forward suggestions regarding the development of biophysics in China, as well as biophysical workers’ opinions and requests, to relevant departments, and safeguards their legal rights and interests;

(VI) In accordance with the demands arising from the country’s economic growth and the development of biophysics, it keeps a close watch on the global development trends in biophysics, organizes various training courses, workshops and advanced study programs, and works to improve the academic levels of its members;  

(VII) It organizes evaluations of research achievements in biophysics, and takes active measures to discover and cultivate talents.

Chapter III Memberships

Article 7 The BSC has individual members, student members, senior members, group members and honorary members.

Article 8 Those who accept the Constitution of the BSC and meet one of the following requirements are viable to apply for BSC memberships.

(I) Individual members

1. College graduates who have engaged in research, educational, production, or organizational and managerial work in biophysics for two years and above, with a certain level of academic capability;

2. Technological workers who hold a master’s degree or above and engage in biophysics-related work;

3. Other biophysical workers who are not college graduates but have academic capability and working experience equivalent to those stipulated in 1;  

4. Managers who earnestly and actively support the BSC’s work and have relevant knowledge.

(II) Student members

Master’s and doctoral students enrolled in biophysics-related majors at colleges and universities or research institutes can apply for the student membership.

(III) Senior members

Those who have achieved relatively high academic achievements, hold top professional and technical titles, have unblemished academic records, are earnest in the BSC’s work and take an active part in its activities can make a written request for senior membership. Introduction by BSC senior members and recommendation by BSC local branches as well as the applicants’ affiliated organizations are required, and an applicant can become a BSC senior member after having been reviewed and approved by the organizational working committee of the BSC.

(IV) Group members

Technological, educational, production and design enterprises and public institutions, related to biophysics, who have a certain number of technological staff members, and are willing to participate in relevant activities of the BSC and support its work can apply for group membership.

(V) Honorary members

BSC members who have made major contributions to the development of China’s biophysical science and technology and to the fulfillment of BSC’s missions, as well as foreign experts and scholars who have made major contributions to the development of biophysics, enjoy high academic prestige, and earnestly participate or assist in the organization of the BSC’s technological exchanges can be awarded the title of honorary member, after being recommended by the Executive Council and approved by the Council.

Article 9 Membership procedures are as follows:

(I) The applicant files an application, with an attached recommendation by a BSC member or the applicant’s affiliated organization;

(II) The Executive Council gives approval;

(III) The BSC issues the membership card.

Article 10 BSC members enjoy the following rights and benefits:

I. Individual members and senior members

(I) Have the right to elect and be elected in elections, as well as has voting rights in other issues; 

(II) Enjoy preferential policies when participating in BSC academic events;

(III) Are given priority in obtaining relevant academic materials;

(IV) Have the right to criticize and supervise the BSC’s work;

(V) May join the Society on a voluntary basis and freely withdraw from it.

II. Student members

(I) Enjoy preferential policies when participating in BSC academic events;

(II) Are given priority in obtaining relevant academic materials;

(III) Have the right to criticize and supervise the BSC’s work;

(IV) May join the Society on a voluntary basis and freely withdraw from it.

III. Group members

(I) Enjoy preferential policies when participating in BSC academic events;

(II) Are given priority in obtaining relevant academic materials;

(III) May request the Society to give priority in rendering technological consulting services;

(IV) May request BSC’s assistance in organizing training courses.

IV. Honorary members

(I) Have the right to elect and be elected in elections, as well as voting rights in other issues;

(II) Enjoy preferential policies when participating in BSC academic events;

(III) Are given priority in obtaining relevant academic materials;

(IV) Have the right to criticize and supervise the BSC’s work;

(V) May join the Society on a voluntary basis and freely withdraw from it.

(VI) Are exempted from paying membership fees.

Article 11 Members must fulfill the following obligations:

I. Individual members, student members and senior members

(I) Abide by the Constitution of the BSC and implement its resolutions;

(II) Complete the work commissioned by the BSC;

(III) Write academic papers and earnestly take part in science popularization activities;

(IV) Safeguard the BSC’s legal rights and interests;

(V) Give feedback to the BSC and provide relevant materials;

(VI) Pay membership fees in a timely manner.

II. Honorary members

(I) Abide by the BSC’s Constitution and implement its resolutions;

(II) Complete the work commissioned by the BSC;

(III) Write academic papers and earnestly take part in science popularization activities;

(IV) Safeguard the BSC’s legal rights and interests;

(V) Give feedback to the BSC and provide relevant materials;

III. Group members

(I) Implement the BSC’s resolutions and accept the work commissioned by it;

(II) Assist in the organization of relevant academic and science popularization activities;

(III) Pay membership fees in a timely manner.

Article 12 When withdrawing from the BSC, a member must send a written notice to the BSC and return the membership card. If a member never paid any membership fees for years or participated in any of the Society’s activities, it will be deemed as an automatic withdrawal.

Article 13 A member, if found in serious violation of the Constitution of the BSC, will have the membership revoked after the decision is adopted by the Council or the Executive Council by a vote.

Chapter IV Organization and the Election and Removal of leaders

Article 14 The BSC’s highest organ of power is the General Assembly, which holds the following functions and powers:

(I) It formulates and revises the Constitution of the BSC;

(II) It deliberates on the Council’s working report and financial report;

(III) It elects a new Council, which will have at least one-third of the members of its predecessor changed in each election;

(IV) It reviews the results of academic activities, and grants honors and awards for advanced achievements;

(V) It makes proposals on future policies, tasks and plans;

(VI) It decides on other major issues.

Article 15 The General Assembly must, in principle, be convened only when more than two-thirds of the deputies are present at the session. A resolution of the General Assembly will take effect only after more than half of the deputies present at the General Assembly vote in favor of it.

Article 16 The General Assembly is held once every four years. If extraordinary circumstances necessitate the election of the new leadership ahead of or behind schedule, it must be approved by the Council via a vote, examined by the China Association for Science and Technology and approved by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. However, the election must not be postponed for more than a year.

Article 17 The Council is the executive body of the General Assembly. It takes charge of the BSC’s daily work when the General Assembly is not in session, and is responsible to the General Assembly.

Article 18 The functions and powers of the Council are as follows:

(I) It implements the resolutions adopted at the General Assembly;

(II) The Council uses a secret ballot to elect ballot its chair, vice-chairs, secretary-general and executive directors. The chair must be an expert in the discipline, while the chair, vice-chairs and the secretary-general are limited to two consecutive terms;

(III) The Council is responsible for preparatory work for the next session of the General Assembly;

(IV) It delivers working and financial reports to the General Assembly;

(V) It decides on the absorption or removal of members;

(VI) It sets up working bodies and academic branches according to actual needs;

(VII) It decides on the appointment of deputy secretary-general and heads of various institutions;

(VIII) It leads affiliated institutions in carrying out activities;

(IX) It develops work plans and internal management rules of the BSC;

(X) It recommends outstanding academic papers for national awards and prizes or those awards and prizes given by the authors’ affiliated organizations.

(XI) It makes decisions on other major issues.

Article 19 A session of the Council must be convened only when more than two-thirds of the directors are present at the session. A resolution of the Council will only take effect after more than two-thirds of the Council directors present at the session vote in favor of it.

Article 20 At least two sessions must be held during each term of the Council. Under extraordinary circumstances, a session can be held in the form of teleconferencing.

Article 21 The Society has an Executive Council, and the number of its members must not exceed one-third of the Council directors. When the Council is not in session, the Executive Council will exercise the functions and powers as stipulated in (I), (III), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII), (IX), (X) and (XI) under Article 18 and be responsible to the Council. 

Article 22 A session of the Council must be convened only when more than two-thirds of the directors are present at the session. A resolution of the Council will only take effect after more than two-thirds of the Council directors present at the session vote in favor of it.

Article 23 The Executive Council meets at least once a year. Under extraordinary circumstances, a session can be held in the form of teleconferencing.

Article 24 The chair, vice-chairs and the secretary-general of the BSC must meet the following requirements:

(I) They must adhere to the Party's line, principles and policies, and possess political integrity and competence;

(II) They must have great influence in fields within the BSC’s service scope;

(III) The upper age limit for appointment to the posts of chair, vice-chair and secretary-general is 70 years old;

(IV) They must be healthy and able to handle daily work;

(V) They must have never received the criminal punishment political rights deprivation;

(VI)They must have full capacity for civil conduct.

Article 25 If a chair, vice-chair or secretary-general of the BSC exceeds the upper age limit for appointment to the posts, he or she will take office only after the case is approved by the Council by a vote, reviewed by the China Association for Science and Technology, and approved by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Article 26 The tenure for the posts of chair, vice-chair and secretary-general is four years for each term.

Article 27 The chair of the BSC is its legal representative. If extraordinary circumstances necessitate a vice-chair or secretary-general to assume the role of legal representative, he or she must be appointed only after the case is examined and approved by the Council or the Executive Council, reviewed by the China Association for Science and Technology, and approved by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The BSC’s legal representative will not serve as the legal representative of any other organization.  

Article 28 The BSC’s chair exercises the following functions and powers:

(I) Convenes and chairs sessions of the Council (or Executive Council);

(II) Examine the implementation of resolutions passed at the General Assembly and sessions of the Council (or Executive Council);

(III) Sign important documents on behalf of the BSC.

Article 29 The BSC’s secretary-general exercises the following functions and powers:

(I) Takes care of office routines, and organizes the implementation of annual work plans;

(II) Coordinates work among various branches, representative offices and entities;

(III) Nominates candidates for deputy secretary-general and main leaders of various offices, branches, representative offices and entities, for final decision by the Council or the Executive Council;

(IV) Decides on the employment of full-time staff members at offices, representative offices and entities;

(V) Handles other daily routines.

Chapter V Assets Management and Principles of Use

Article 30 Sources of funding for the BSC include:

(I) Membership fees;

(II) Grants and donations by enterprises, organizations and individuals;

(III) The BSC applies for project funding offered by the China Association for Science and Technology and relevant departments;

(IV) Income from various technological exchanges, consulting, services and exhibitions the Society organizes or provides within its service scope;

(V) Interests;

(VI) Other legal incomes.

Article 31 The BSC collects membership fees according to the country’s relevant regulations.

Article 32 Funding must be used for activities and developments within the BSC’s service scope, and must not be redistributed among its members.

Article 33 The Society must set up a strict financial management system to ensure legal, valid, accurate and complete accounting data.

Article 34 The Society is equipped with professional accountants, who must not simultaneously serve as cashiers. Accountants must conduct financial accounting and carry out accounting supervision. An accountant who is transferred to another post or resigns must complete the handover procedure with his or her successor.  

Article 35 The BSC’s assets management must conform to the country’s financial management rules and come under the supervision of the General Assembly and finance departments. Assets that come from financial allocation or donations from the public must be supervised by auditing organs, and the BSC must publicize relevant information to the public in an appropriate manner.

Article 36 The BSC must undergo financial audits by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the China Association for Science and Technology before holding a new leadership election or changing its legal representative.

Article 37 The BSC’s assets must never be embezzled, secretly redistributed or misappropriated by any enterprise or individual.

Article 38 The policy for salary, insurance and benefits of the full-time staff is in accordance with the country’s relevant provisions for public institutions.

Chapter VI Procedure for Revising the Constitution of the BSC

Article 39 Any amendment to the Constitution must be adopted by the Council by a vote and deliberated on by the General Assembly.

Article 40 The revised Constitution will come into effect after being examined and approved by the China Association for Science and Technology and also reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Civil Affairs within 15 days as of the date when it is adopted at the General Assembly.

Chapter VII Termination Procedure and Post-Termination Property Disposal

Article 41 If the BSC needs to be canceled because it has fulfilled its goals or been automatically dissolved, or because of a planned separation or merger, the Council or the Executive Council must put forward a motion for termination.

Article 42 The motion for termination must be adopted at the General Assembly by a vote, and filed to the China Association for Science and Technology for examination and approval.

Article 43 Before the Society is terminated, a liquidation team must be set up under the guidance of the China Association for Science and Technology to settle claims and debts and deal with the aftermath of the termination. During the liquidation period, no other activity should be organized.

Article 44 The BSC must be terminated upon completion of relevant cancellation procedures at the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Article 45 The residual property of the BSC after its termination will come under the supervision of the China Association for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Civil Affairs and be used for undertakings related to the BSC’s goals in accordance with relevant regulations of the country.

Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions

Article 46 The Constitution of the BSC was adopted by a vote at the General Assembly in May 2006.

Article 47 The Executive Council reserves the right of final interpretation of the Constitution of the BSC.

Article 48 The Constitution of the BSC takes effect on the date it is approved by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.