Principles of Membership
The APSIM initiative (AI) was established in 2007 to promote the development and use of the science modules and infrastructure software of APSIM. The Foundation Members of the AI are CSIRO, the State of Queensland and The University of Queensland. In 2015, AgResearch (NZ) joined with the University of Southern University joining shortly after. Iowa State University joined in March 2020 with Plant and Food Research NZ in June 2021. Although the APSIM Initiative welcomes enquiries from interested parties, it is also worth noting that the APSIM initiative works closely with a number of organisations who are not currently members. Due to a number of recent enquiries, the AI has developed a set of Membership Principles to facilitate discussions from interested parties.
Principles of Membership
Currently, all decisions of the APSIM Initiative Unincorporated Joint Venture (AI) are made by consensus, so it is imperative that the strategic direction and philosophy of the members are aligned to enable optimal functioning of the AI. Alignment of ethics and values is important to ensure commitment to the partnership allowing the AI to achieve its mission: Developments in agricultural systems science and modelling are captured rapidly and effectively within the APSIM software framework, which is professionally developed, maintained and managed as a high quality, world class research tool.
Membership Principles are:
- A member must align strategically with the direction and philosophy of the APSIM Initiative which is outlined in the AI Strategic Plan
- A member must have demonstrated significant capacity and credibility in agricultural modelling through pre-existing long term use and/or the development of APSIM
- Members are committed to achieving mutual benefits that can be articulated and understood
- No member of the AI will be in a dependency relationship to another as a result of its membership
- A member will be able to demonstrate the ongoing relevance of the membership to its own stakeholders
- A member has demonstrated a vision for future as well as immediate benefits and commits to the longer-term importance of the sustainability and reputation of APSIM
- Members guarantee transparency and accountability in all aspects of their involvement in the AI, having the highest regard for individual rights and ethical, social, legal and environmental imperatives
- It is generally expected that researchers within joining member organisation will have had prior interactions with the Reference Panel through the submission of Improvements or collaborative research projects
- Joining members commit resources (timing and funding) to both the AI, SC and RP
- A joining member will require recommendation for membership from a current AI member