STRUCTURE

Officers Chair Co-Chair Secretary Past Chair The officers appoint Chair-/Co-Chair of the International Noise Teams with the approval of the Executive Committee	existing Executive Committee elects new Officers by majority vote at the end of each five years term	Executive Committee Officers Chair/Co-Chair of each INT All former Past Chairpersons of ICBEN Six other persons appointed by the Chairpersons of ICBEN
International Noise Teams (INTs) (Each INT consists of up to 10 experts in addition to the Chair and Co-Chairpersons.) Team 1: Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Team 2: Noise and Communication Team 3: Non-auditory effects of noise Team 4: Influence of Noise on Performance and Behavior Team 5: Effects of Noise on Sleep Team 6: Community Responses to Noise Team 7: Noise and Animals Team 8: Interactions with Other Agents and Contextual Factors Team 9: Policy and Economics

The main goal of ICBEN is to promote a high level of scientific research concerning all the aspects noise-induced effects on human beings and on animals including preventive regulatory measures and to keep alive a vivid communication among the scientists working in that field. The means to achieve this ambitious goal are mainly based on its unique structure.

The founders of ICBEN were wise enough not to concentrate the responsibility on the Chairperson of ICBEN but to delegate it primarily to the International Noise Teams (INT), in particular to the very experts who are appointed at the beginning of each 5-years term (and at the utmost for a second term). As these experts are familiar with the state of the art in their respective research area they are expected to build and to chair a team of highly qualified scientists actively working in that field. Apart from themselves they shall appoint not more than 10 additional members, where not more than 2 shall come from the same country. 'Permanent' membership (i.e. reappointment every new 5-years term) is possible only as long as the person in question is actively working in the respective field on a high scientific level. So, the International Noise Teams are renewed every 5-years and only for the then beginning term. The Chair-/Co-Chairpersons take care for a vivid communication among the members of the Team, they are entitled to replace those scientists who give up their work during a term and they are expected to design the program of the next congress.

A primary attribute of ICBEN which has contributed significantly to its success is its truly international representation. The four office bearers come from four different countries, the members of the Executive Committee from overall 10 countries of four continents, namely America, Asia, Australia, and Europe.

Contrary to other societies ICBEN does not require membership fees. Concerning finances, the constitution simply states, that 'the officers and the Executive Committee are authorized to solicit funds in support of the activities of the Commission.' Thus, the office bearers must meet costs from their institutions and from their own resources. This also means, that the conferences must be run without any financial support from ICBEN. Despite this, since its birth successful conferences were performed every five years. However, the willingness of a person or institution to spend time and energy to organize a conference and to bear the (financial) risk depends largely on the contribution of ICBEN-members. Instead of membership fees they are expected work on a highly ranked scientific level.