Page 11 - Summer 2006

REPORT OF THE VISION 2010 COMMITTEE
The purpose of the Society is to increase and diffuse the knowledge of acoustics and promote its practical applications.
Following a series of long-range plan-
ning reports prepared over the past 75
years (see Appendix A), the Vision
2010 Committee was established in 2003 by
President Dick Stern and continued by Presidents Ilene Busch-Vishniac, William Kuperman, William Yost, and Anthony Atchley. This document contains a set of fourteen recommendations made by the Committee that if imple- mented will enable the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) to continue and improve upon its ability to be the premier scientific society in acoustics. The report begins with this introduction and fourteen recommendations. These are fol- lowed by a detailed discussion of the issues considered by the Committee that led to the recommendations and suggestions for ways in which they might be implemented, and ends with two Appendices that provide additional background related to the work of the Committee. The recommendations emanated from meetings of the Committee, meetings of the Committee with others within the ASA, and from surveys administered by the Committee.
The report is divided into two main areas—member- ship and products and services. During the meetings of the Committee, many issues related to the technical fields cov- ered by ASA were discussed. No Society-wide recommen- dations resulted from these discussions, but many issues specific to various technical fields were covered in a sepa- rate document. The Committee strongly encourages Technical Committees to address these issues and that the ASA leadership assist them in their efforts. Appendix B lists the members of the Committee and the many other Society members who met with the Committee to help it formulate this report.
It is important to realize in evaluating this report that the ASA is healthy and fiscally stable with a strong interdis- ciplinary nature. When asked in a survey about the top things that the ASA is doing well, overwhelming support was given to the quality and relevance of the meetings, the quality and relevance of the Journal (JASA), the support given to Standards, and the support given to young mem- bers. The participants rated the ASA as either best or one of the best compared to other Societies.
The Vision
The Committee hopes that with the implementation of its recommendations that the ASA of 2010 and beyond will have the following characteristics:
• Both the knowledge of acoustics and its practical applications will each be a vital part of the Society.
• A diversity of acousticians from around the world will look upon the Society as their home.
“Plus ça change, plus c’est la meme chose.”
• Young professional acousticians will take their place in the Society and receive the support that is afforded to both student members and senior members.
• The scope of the ASA publications will be expanded and the Journal (JASA) will be judged by its quality and relevance to the needs of the entire acoustics community. The ASA publications will be at the forefront of using advanced technology and in pro- viding information to the public about acoustics.
• Both semiannual meetings will be flexible in provid- ing a wide range of exposure to acoustics research and its applications. Exhibits will become an integral part of the Society’s meetings.
• The work of the Committee on Standards and the Working Groups will have volunteer participants at every level of the acoustics community—students, those acousticians just entering their professional careers, and established professionals. The results of the Standards efforts will be to move toward making as many of the standards produced by the ASA freely accessible for the betterment of society.
• The Society will participate in and help shape the global decisions concerning acoustical matters relat- ing to all living creatures.
• The entire acoustics community will recognize and respect the achievements of the members of the Society.
Recommendations
Recommendations relative to membership Recommendation 1: The Vision 2010 Committee rec- ommends that the ASA enhance and broaden its ability to increase and disseminate knowledge of acoustics as well as its practical applications.
Recommendation 2: The Vision 2010 Committee rec- ommends that the ASA strengthen the membership and participation of international acousticians. Recommendation 3: The Vision 2010 Committee rec- ommends that the ASA make efforts to encourage those acousticians just entering their professional careers to participate fully in Society affairs.
Recommendations relative to products and services Recommendation 4: The Vision 2010 Committee rec- ommends that the ASA continue to enhance electronic aspects of publishing so that such technologies are user friendly and enhance the quality of the publications.
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