The First Half-century of the International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS) 1952-2002

Gerald M. Friedman, 2002

"On 1 September 1948, directly after the closing of the 18th International Geological Congress in London, UK, the British sedimentary petrologists, headed by P. Allen, arranged a meeting for the sedimentary petrologists who had participated in the Congress. P. Allen raised the following points for discussion: (a) is some sort of a international union in sedimentary petrology desirable? (b) Should some kind of international meeting of sedimentary petrologists be held regularly in the future?" (Doeglas 1976).

At the International Geological Congress in Algeria in 1952, the International Association of Sedimentologists was formally founded.

"At the start of 1972 there were about 700 members, 400 of whom took the journal Sedimentology" (Reading 1976).

In much of 1962 IAS's journal Sedimentology was first published, and in 1973 National corrrespondents were appointed to represent sedimentologists in different countries.

Scientists of eminent distinction in sedimentology became eligible to receive the Sorby Medal, named in honor of H.C. Sorby (1826-1908), prominent sedimentologist, or were awarded Honorary Membership in the Association (Friedman and Sanders 1978).

Changes in the late 1980s and thorughout the 1990s included the introduction of regional meetings, such as in Heidelberg, Germany and in Jerusalem, Israel. The last few International Sedimentological Congresses were held in England (1990), Brazil (1994), Spain (1998), and South Africa (2002).

IAS' total publications include about 180 newsletters, 30 special publications, and 4 volumes of the journal Sedimentology, plus guidebooks for the International Sedimentological Congresses and regional meetings.

IAS is a truly international association. It has about 2000 members involving about 100 countries. Forty-six National correspondents are active. The length of the journal has increased from a standard 1280 pages per year to 1440 pages (Best et al. 2003).