From the early work of Prince Albert I of Monaco, the first president of the International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans, to today, the Association has promoted and supported international research and cross-cutting activities in ocean sciences, building on the work of the many far-sighted scientists who, over the last century, have addressed seemingly intractable problems. This paper describes key events in IAPSO's history and the roles played by the scientists involved.

This paper summarises how IAVCEI was formed 100 years ago; the context in which it formed; its governance structure and how this has changed; the nature of its conferences; the initiation and development of its flagship journal, the Bulletin of Volcanology; and its evolution into an inclusive, representative learned association which welcomes scientists from all countries to participate in its research and training conferences and workshops and in its governance.

In this paper a brief summary will be given of the historical development of geomagnetism as a science in southern Africa and particularly the role played by Hermanus Magnetic Observatory in this regard. From a very modest beginning in 1841 as a recording station at the Cape of Good Hope Hermanus Magnetic Observatory is today part of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), where its geomagnetic field data are extensively used in international research projects with a wide range.

This paper analyses the development of international geoscientific unions, and discusses their past and present role in and their added value to the promotion of geoscience in the complicated arena of existing and emerging intergovernmental organisations and professional societies of geoscientists.

In this article we present the history of the Jagiellonian University School of Tourism and highlights its role in the development of tourism research and education in Europe. The school played an important role in the development of tourism geography and education in Europe, especially in Poland. This paper fills a gap in our knowledge on the history of science and education, especially tourism research in central Europe at this time.

The article concentrates on the German role in the establishment of the European Incoherent Scatter Radar (EISCAT). It outlines the scientific motivation of the Max Planck Society for participating on behalf of two of its institutes. Special attention is given to the augmentation of the scientific scope of the radar by the installation of an ionospheric heater facility. The first years of EISCAT operation are summarized from the personal viewpoint of the author.

Colonial era Colaba-Alibag MO, operational since 1841, contains valuable information on geomagnetic phenomena of different periodicities. First Indian director Nanabhoy Moos compiled Colaba data and interpreted them radically differently, echoing current understanding. Moos rejected terrestrial origins for magnetic storms and tried to bind together meteorological, seismological and geomagnetic realms. Colaba instruments have historical and scientific significance. Move to Alibag was incidental.