▁are ▁professional ▁astronom ers ▁from ▁ 1 0 2 ▁countries ▁world wide . ▁ 8 1 . 7 % ▁of ▁all ▁individual ▁members ▁are ▁male , ▁while ▁ 1 8 . 3 % ▁are ▁female , ▁among ▁them ▁the ▁union ' s ▁former ▁president , ▁Mexican ▁astronom er ▁Sil via ▁Tor res - Pe im bert . ▁ ▁M emb ership ▁also ▁includes ▁ 8 2 ▁national ▁members , ▁professional ▁astronom ical ▁communities ▁representing ▁their ▁country ' s ▁affili ation ▁with ▁the ▁I AU . ▁National ▁members ▁include ▁the ▁Australian ▁Academy ▁of ▁Science , ▁the ▁Chinese ▁Astronom ical ▁Society , ▁the ▁French ▁Academy ▁of ▁Sciences , ▁the ▁Indian ▁National ▁Science ▁Academy , ▁the ▁National ▁Academ ies ▁( Un ited ▁States ), ▁the ▁National ▁Research ▁Foundation ▁of ▁South ▁Africa , ▁the ▁National ▁Scient ific ▁and ▁Techn ical ▁Research ▁Council ▁( Ar gent ina ), ▁K AC ST ▁( Sa udi ▁Arab ia ), ▁the ▁Council ▁of ▁German ▁Observ ator ies , ▁the ▁Royal ▁Astronom ical ▁Society ▁( Un ited ▁Kingdom ), ▁the ▁Royal ▁Astronom ical ▁Society ▁of ▁New ▁Zealand , ▁the ▁Royal ▁Swedish ▁Academy ▁of ▁Sciences , ▁the ▁Russian ▁Academy ▁of ▁Sciences , ▁and ▁the ▁Science ▁Council ▁of ▁Japan , ▁among ▁many ▁others . ▁ ▁The ▁so ver eign ▁body ▁of ▁the ▁I AU ▁is ▁its ▁General ▁Assembly , ▁which ▁compr ises ▁all ▁members . ▁The ▁Assembly ▁determ ines ▁I AU ▁policy , ▁appro ves ▁the ▁Stat utes ▁and ▁By - L aws ▁of ▁the ▁Union ▁( and ▁am end ments ▁proposed ▁ther eto