Regular and Junior Membership: The 1,314 new IAU members approved included 211 astronomers from the United States. The new Junior Member category was approved, and out of the 352 new junior members approved, 28 were from the United States. The total IAU membership now stands at more than 13,500. The new U.S.-based members work in 104 different institutions located in 34 different states. Approximately 40% of the new U.S.-based members are female; worldwide it is 31%.

IAU Strategic Plan: An IAU Strategic Plan, 2020-2030, was adopted at the IAU GA. The plan includes visions for the each of the IAU Divisions, as well as plans for each of IAU’s three main offices: Astronomy for Development (OAD), Astronomy Outreach (OAO) and Young Astronomers (OYA). The plan can be found at https://www.iau.org/static/administration/about/strategic_plan/strategicplan-2020-2030.pdf.  

Resolutions: Two scientific resolutions concerning the Geocentric and International Terrestrial Reference Systems and Frames, and a resolution on the preservation, digitization and scientific exploration of historical astronomical data were passed by the GA without discussion.A more controversial resolution to rename the Hubble Law as the “Hubble-Lemaître Law” was endorsed by a strong majority vote, but only after intense discussion. Bruce Elmegreen (IBM), Chair of the Resolutions Committee skillfully managed the debate and answered questions. Due to the controversial nature of the resolution, the vote of Members present at the IAU was taken as advisory, and the resolution was later sent to the full membership for electronic voting.    

Young Astronomer (YA) and Women in Astronomy (WiA) Events: The National Academy of Sciences once again co-sponsored, along with the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (NASL), the Young Astronomers (YA) and the Women in Astronomy (WiA) events at the GA. Over 700 Young Astronomers signed up, so two YA lunches were organized, one each week of the General Assembly. A number of current and past USNC/IAU members served as advisors and mentors.  

U.S. Reception: The USNC also sponsored a U.S. reception at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The event included current IAU Executive Committee members; past IAU presidents and General Secretaries; current Division presidents and vice presidents; Commission presidents; AAS officers; IAU National Committee representatives; and major facility directors and astronomy society presidents. The event serves as an important networking event and an example of science diplomacy.

Locations of Future IAU General Assemblies: The next IAU GA will be held in Busan, Republic of Korea during July or August 2021. The 2024 GA will be held in Cape Town, South Africa. This will be first IAU GA to be held on the continent of Africa.

Delegation Report: The U.S. delegation's full report can be read here (PDF).

U.S. National Committee Meetings
The next USNC/IAU meeting will be held in January 2020 in conjunction with the AAS winter meeting in Hawaii. Watch this space for further information.

The 2019 Meeting was held virtually on January 24. Discussion items included reports and follow-up items from the IAU General Assembly, particularly the Young Astronomer (YA) and Women in Astronomy (WiA) events, the new IAU strategic plan, and IAU individual, junior, and honorary membership; the 100th anniversary of IAU; proposed changes to the USNC/IAU constitution; an invitation to host the IAU Executive Committee meeting in 2020; and committee membership and officer elections. Chryssa Kouveliotu and Martha Haynes were elected Chair and Vice-Chair respectively, for three-year terms beginning October 1, 2019. 

The 2018 meeting was held on January 9 in National Harbor, Maryland. Topics discussed were the reviews of U.S. applicants for IAU membership, the IAU's efforts to create a searchable database of members, the IAU's new PhD Prize, and the USNC's sponsorship of specific events at the 2018 General Assembly. Debra Elmegreen briefed the USNC about the IAU's draft strategic plan, and the committee offered comments. The USNC also formed an eight-person subcommittee to undertake the initial review of U.S.-based applicants, and agreed to a detailed timetable. The application review subcommittee held a conference call on February 23, 2018, and the USNC/IAU then reconvened by conference call on March 2 to review and confirm the subcommittee's recommendations. The U.S. decisions subsequently were conveyed to the IAU, and new members were approved at the General Assembly.