Position and authority

The seven research councils all have their own boards, one of them being the Earth and Life Sciences Board (=ALW Board). If necessary, the NWO Governing Board may determine in what council a certain scientific research topic fits best.

The ALW Board has the following responsibilities and authorities:

• it grants subsidies for implementation and coordination of research
• it formulates the policy for the entire ALW council
• in formulating policy and granting funds it adheres to the policy set by the NWO Governing Board as well as the budget approved for the ALW council,
• it does not have the authority to delegate assessment of subsidy applications for disciplines covered by the ALW council
• it stimulates coordination within the disciplines covered by the ALW council
• it focuses in particular on aspects of ALW disciplines that overlap with aspects of other disciplines, and therefore require special attention in view of coordination or advancement of inter- or multidisciplinary aspects
• it ensures periodic assessment of the results of work carried out by ALW
• it stimulates transfer of knowledge of results of research initiated and stimulated by ALW
• if requested it participates in carrying out the duties of the NWO Governing Board
• it has the authority to perform civil procedure on behalf of the organisation in the framework of its duties and within the limits of the approved budget
• concerning the policy ALW should adopt, it shall be advised at least once a year by a Advisory Committee established by the ALW board, so as to ensure societal relevance of its policy
• it has the authority to establish committees: a declaration to establish a committee also includes the composition and duties of that committee and the period for which it is appointed.
  (Please note: Several committees are active within ALW. Some were established to implement a scientific programme, and there are also two Assessment Advisory Committees (Beoordelings Advies Commissies , als known as BOC's) and one Policy Advisory Committee covering all of ALW (Beleids Advies Commissie =BAC).
• in case a committee is granted power of decision, the ALW Board controls that committee's procedures, supervises the committees' work and is accountable for it. This type of Committee may make decisions on behalf of the ALW Board
• the ALW Board annually submits an (draft) ALW budget to the NWO Governing Board: the ALW budget needs to be approved by the NWO Governing Board
• the ALW Board sends an annual report to the NWO Governing Board, accompanied by am annual statement of accounts which has to be approved by the NWO Governing Board
• the ALW Board formulates internal Rules and Regulations which shall be consistent with the NWO Rules and Regulations
• the meetings of the ALW Board are not open to the public.

The NWO chairman is responsible for providing secretarial support for the ALW Board.