Notes from the history of SCIVU
(Science Council of IVU)

The decline of SCIVU, 1980 -1997, and the provision of alternative research reports.

1980
From the Minutes of the International Council:
The Secretary of S.C.I.V.U., Mr Julius Fleischanderl, presented the minutes of the last S.C.I.V.U. annual meeting in Loughborough. He reported that no candidate for the post of Chairman had come forward. All other offices had been filled.
Problems existed over the development of the work of S.C.I.V.U. but the International Council felt that it was most important to do so in the interest of the vegetarian cause. The problems faced by the Vegetarian Society (U.K.) Ltd in issuing the [SCIVU] Information Bulletin were explained and it was agreed that, although change was necessary, the Information Bulletin should continue to be produced.

1981
From the minutes of the International Council:
S.C.I.V.U. is going through a difficult period due to a lack of active members willing to accept office and accept a very full participation level. Professor Brookhouse has written to the Hon. General Secretary asking to be relieved of the position of Chairman of S.C.I.V.U.
It was agreed that I.V.U. should cease to advertise S.C.I.V.U. on the membership application form and that Mr Fleishanderl should inform subscribers to S.C.I.V.U. of the difficult situation faced and ask for active support. At the next World Congress a serious attempt should be inade to get active support for S.C.I.V.U. but if this should fail then S.C.I.V.U. should be dissolved.

1982
From the minutes of the International Council:

The Hon. Secretary of S.C.I V.U, Mr Julius Fleisehanderl, reported the problems which the organisation faced. A meeting would be held on 25th July at 2.00 p.m. to consider the problems and a report would be presented to the International Council.

From the IVU Constitution adopted at the 1982 Congress:
CLAUSE 6 - Scientific Council (S.C.I.V.U.)
I.V.U. shall encourage the scientific investigation of the vegetarian diet and to this end shall have a Scientific Council which shall operate on behalf of I.V.U.
The Scientific Council shall consist of experts in the fields of medicine, science and economics and other interested persons.
Its aim shall be the collection, editing and dissemination on aspects of vegetarianism.
The Scientific Council shall operate under its own constitution which shall be subject to the approval of the International Council of I.V.U. and it will maintain its own financial system and provide accounts for the approval of the International Council of I.V.U. at yearly intervals.
Should S.C.I.V.U. cease to operate all its remaining funds shall be given over to I.V.U. for its benefit.
(this section was deleted from the 1993 Constitution)

1983
From the minutes of the International Council:
Correspondence from Dr. Pellnat concerning the continuing problems of activating S.C.I.V.U. was reported. It was agreed to leave the review of S.C.I.V.U.'s future until the next World Congress.

1984
From the minutes of the International Council:
The General Secretary reported the problems which had continued over the organisation of S.C.I.V.U. Dr. Pellnat now felt it was not possible to continue and this was agreed.
The General Secretary explained that the Vegetarian Society of the U.K. had decided to appoint a part-time research officer for a one year trial period. After some discussion, it was agreed that I.V.U. should provide £1,000 per year to support the endeavour until the next World Vegetarian Congress when the matter would be reviewed. This initiative to be in the interest of promoting the scientific aspects of vegetarianism in the world as I.V.U. is no longer able to continue with S.C.I.V.U. £500 is to be paid out of the income of the Manker Foundation and £500 to be taken out of the general funds of I.V.U.

From the World Congress report:
The Hon.General Secretary reported that the International Council had decided to suspend the activity of S.C.I.V.U. for the time being due to insufficient active support.

1986
From the minutes of the International Council:
Grant for V.S.U.K. Research Post
The Hon. General Secretary reported that the V.S.U.K. had appointed a Researcher on a one year appointment. Mrs Darneille proposed that I.V.U. should agree to continue support for the post-until the next World Congress when the matter would be reviewed. She proposed that £500 should be paid from the Manker Foundation and that £500 should come from the general funds of I.V.U. and these proposals were agreed.

1990
From the minutes of the International Council:
The Hon. General Secretary reminded members that it had been agreed to donate £1,000 per annum to the V.S.U.K. towards the cost of employing a researcher and that this matter should now be reviewed. Members asked what services I.V.U. received from the researcher and were informed that, in the past, there had not been any unless people wrote to the V.S.U.K. for relevant information. It was agreed that information should be requested to be put into the newsletters issued by I.V.U. Also that the V.S,U.K, Fact Sheet titles should be circulated to those member societies which wrote in asking for them so that they might order them. It was agreed that I.V.U. should pay the cost of postage and printing for such requests.
It was agreed to continue the grant towards the cost of the V.S.U.K. Researcher until the next world congress when the matter would be reviewed. £500 should come from general funds and £500 from the Manker Foundation funds.

1993
From the minutes of the International Council:
It was agreed that IVU should reform SCIVU and put the matter on the agenda for the meeting in The Hague. [WVC 1994]

1995
From the minutes of the International Council:
It was felt that it was desirable to resucitate SCIVU but that the name of the organisation should be The Scientific Committee of the International Vegetarian Union. The Hon. General Secretary was asked to put an article in the Newsletter about the possibilities for such a development.

1996
From the minutes of the International Council:
The Hon. General Secretary reported the grant of £1,000 per annum paid by IVU to the VSUK was for services rendered and to help with the cost of the society gathering research findings and publishing its Research Bulletin. The Society also provided literature to IVU member societies and to enquirers at the request of the Hon. General Secretary. It was agreed to continue the grant for 1996 and 1997.
It was reported that Professor Marcel Hebbelinck had suggested that IVU should make efforts to resuscitate SCIVU and this was agreed in principle. Professor Hebbelinck (convenor) in conjunction with Mr Saurabh Dalal and Dr Igor Bukovsky were asked to discuss the matter and provide a report and proposal for the next meeting of the International Council.

1997
From the minutes of the International Council:
Since the VSUK grant related to a research bulletin which had been discontinued it was agreed that the payment should be discontinued.

Further details will be added here as they become available.