1. General Statements

The Society, based in St Petersburg, was designed to promote natural science, practical application of its finding, and enable realization of the scientific interests of its members.

It was founded in 1868 under St Petersburg University and received the name "Saint Petersburg Imperial Society of Naturalists". As time passed the Society was successively renamed first into "Petrograd Society of Naturalists" (1914 - 1924) and then into "Leningrad Society of Natural". Since registration in 1992 the Society goes under the name of the "Saint Petersburg Society of Naturalists" (SPSN). The SPSN has traditionally worked in close co-operation with St Petersburg State University.

The Society is non-governmental, non-profit public self-governed organization. Its activities are based on principles of voluntary participation, legality, openness and transparency.

The Society operates in accord with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, current legislation of the Russian Federation and the Statute of SPSN.

The Society has the right to set up its branches and offices within the Russian Federation.

The Society is a legal entity with its own balance, assets, settlement and other accounts in rubles in banking establishments, can realize and acquire property and personal non property rights, undertake liabilities, be the plaintiff and defendant in court and court of arbitration.

Relationships between the Society and St Petersburg University, as well as other enterprises, institutions are subject to negotiations and agreements. 

II. Objectives, tasks and activities

The objective of the Society is to promote natural science, practical application of its findings, and enable development and realization of the scientific interests of its members. The Society is particularly concerned with promoting integration of knowledge in natural science and development of pressing problems of natural science where its various disciplines overlap, with involving the younger generation in the solution of these problems.

In order to fulfill its objectives and tasks the Society organizes, finances and conducts scientific research in natural science; independently or in collaboration with other institutions organizes and finances research stations, laboratories, museums, expeditions, promotes introduction of scientific developments into practice. The Society discusses at its sessions papers based on natural science data, reviews of state-of-the-art in individual disciplines of natural science and related disciplines, problems of natural history and methodology. The Society organizes, independently or in collaboration with other scientific societies, congresses, conferences, seminars and discussions for natural scientists, and takes part in similar events, organized by other Russian and international organizations; co-operates with foreign scientific societies and institutions, carries out exchange of information between its members and researches from other countries.

The Society is engaged in popularization of natural science developments by giving public lectures, conducting festivals, contests, performances, exhibitions and excursions, by publishing own Transactions, books and brochures and so on.

The Society in accord with current legislation carries out nature conservation activities, implements programmes aimed at enforcing stability of the environment, living and working conditions for people. The Society performs planning of protected areas, carries out reconnaissance and planning operation in connection with nature use and the use of land resources; organizes and carries out public ecological expert assessment, performs public environmental control, takes part in public hearings.

The Society renders assistance to individuals, public and private organizations, research and educational institutions in the part of their activities that agrees with the aims and tasks of the Society, e.g. by granting stipends, ad hoc financing, providing equipment and property to be used by beneficiaries. The SPSN institutes and awards prizes, honorary awards and titles for scientific findings and particularly valuable papers in the sphere of natural science, both independently and together with other organizations. The Society institutes stipends for graduate and post-graduate students who have demonstrated remarkable potential and achievements in creative research; establish charity foundations which provide financing for encouraging creative approach in students.

III Members and participants of the Society

Members of the Society have equal rights and liabilities with respect to the Society. Citizens of the Russian Federation, foreign citizens as well as individuals with no citizenship, older than 18 are eligible to become members of the Society

Scientists, employees of higher educational or research institutions whose work in the sphere of natural science serves fulfillment of the Society s objectives and tasks can become members of the Society. People working in other sectors of national economy, interested in the achievements of modern natural science and actively participating in the work of the Society can be admitted to the Society. Members of the Society shall recognize the objectives of the Society and obey its Statute.

Members of the Society have the right to support from Society in their scientific activities within the Status regulations; turn to Scientific Council for social and material aid from the Society; use libraries, archives, collections owned by the Society; take part in scientific and other contests and events held by the Society; take part in the work of the stations, laboratories and expeditions of the Society; initiate organization of research, scientific and technical groups for reaching the targets of the Society as declared in the statute; act in the name of the Society when commissioned by the Scientific Council or President as conformed by proxy; advantages of being published in the Society Transactions; be awarded honorary titles and prizes instituted by the Society; vote at the General Meeting of the Society and at General Meetings of its sections; freely leave the Society.

Members of the Society are obliged to facilitate achievement of the tasks of the Society and realization of the rights of other members, sections, etc; make use of the capacities of the Society to attract students and young specialists to scientific research; use the present Statute as guidelines, follow resolutions of the steering bodies of the Society; timely pay membership fees as defined by the Scientific Council; inform the board of the section and/or Scientific Council about the intention to leave the Society.

Members of the Society pay annual membership fee determined by Scientific Council. If the fee is not paid for two years membership in the Society is halted until the debt is settled. Members who have not paid the membership fee for more than three years expelled from the Society.

Members of the Society can be expelled from the Society of their own will or if their activities contradict the Statute of the Society.

Citizens of the Russian Federation, foreign citizens, as well as individuals with no citizenship, older that 18, who recognize the objectives and Statute of the Society are eligible to become its participants. Status of a participant of the Society is conferred by its sections and further registered by the Scientific Council. 
 

IV. Assets of the Society

Assets of the Society are generated by membership and voluntary fees, donations, other pecuniary and material receipts from legal entities or individuals, not prohibited by current legislation. The Society can be owner of buildings, structures, housing facilities, equipment. Vehicles, implements, telecommunication means, goods designed for educational, entertainment and fitness purposes, pecuniary resources, stocks and other securities, patents, licenses and other possessions necessary for operation of the Society in accord with the present Statute.

Money of the Society is spent only on activities aimed at fulfilling the aims and tasks of the Society and cannot be distributed among members of the Society. All property of the Society can be claimed for to meet liabilities of the Society. The State is not liable for the debts and obligations of the Society, the Society is not liable for the debts and obligations of the State. The Society is not liable for the debts and obligations of its members and participants, members and participants are not liable for the debts and obligations of the Society. 

V. Steering and executive bodies of the Society

The supreme body of the Society is the General Meeting of the Members of the Society, hereinafter referred to as the General Meeting, convened as necessity emerges, not less than once in five years. The General Meeting of the Society is legitimate given that more than a half of the listed members of the Society are present.

Exclusive powers of the General Meeting of the Society are to identify the strategic lines of activities of the Society, principles of building up and using the property; to adopt the Statute, introduce amendments and additions to it; to elect President and Vice-Presidents of the Society for a 5-year term; to elect members of Scientific Council of the Society comprised of no less that 5 people, for a 5-year term; to control the work of the Scientific Council, President and Vice-Presidents of the Society, hear and approve reports on their activities; to elect the Auditing Commission of the Society, comprised of 5 people, for a 5-year term; to approve submitted by Auditing Commission; to make decisions on reorganization and liquidation of the Society.

Activities of the Society between the General Meetings are supervised by Scientific Council of the Society. The Scientific Council is comprised of the President, Vice-Presidents and members of the Scientific Council elected by the General Meeting.

Presidium of the Scientific Council may be formed to provide consultations for the President and prepare resolutions of the Scientific Council of the Society. Presidium of the Scientific Council is appointed by the decisions of the Scientific Council from its own ranks. The Statute does not limit the number of persons to be included in the Presidium. The Chair of the Presidium of the Scientific Council is the President of the Society.