Interdisciplinary understanding: the role of the IUCr representative in other Unions' meetings

We live in a time that requires strong international collaboration: economical and political on the level of countries and interdisciplinary on the level of institutions and individual researchers. The future vision of science, according to the International Council of Science (ICSU)* [http://www.icsu.org/] stresses building disciplinary strength while supporting the interdisciplinary approach.

Collaboration between individual scientific Unions such as  the IUCr and other organizations serves many purposes:

•  Helps to develop mutual understanding and promote interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Increases the visibility of the IUCr and gives us an opportunity to monitor research trends emerging globally and position our own plans accordingly. It also helps us to develop different approaches to solving problems that are crucial for all scientists: namely, how to promote education in our specific area, how to attract funding for our research and how to solve ethical problems that emerge in our scientific societies.
  
• Draws our attention to other important fields which we may not know much about.

I have been representing the IUCr at two significant and outgoing organizations: the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) [http://cosparhq.cnes.fr/] and the International Organization for Crystal Growth (IOCG) [http://iocg.org/]. During the Council Meeting at the 38th Assembly of COSPAR in Bremen, Germany, the IUCr learnt about new initiatives proposed by COSPAR. At the General Assembly of IOCG in Beijing, People's Republic of China, the successful collaboration of the IOCG with the IUCr was mentioned and applauded several times. Recently I was invited, as the IUCr Representative, to the historic meeting in Berlin, where the European Association of Crystal Growers is to be created. Detailed reports on all these meetings are to be published  soon in the IUCr Newsletter. Briefly, each organization pursues its own goals and is very proud of its own achievements. It is wise to know why and how they are doing it, what obstacles they have to overcome and how they are able to share their success with their members. It is also good to know that the Executive Committees of all three organizations support the exchange of information and understand the importance of personal interaction for fruitful scientific collaboration. It is crucial to stay informed and involved - so that we can plan further research and applications of our discoveries, strongly motivate  our proposals to granting agencies and attract young scientists.

At the IUCr we are all about interdisciplinary collaboration: crystal growers working on new materials look for crystallographers to help with characterization; solid state physicists and chemists interpret their results with the help of crystallographic databases; crystallographic structures of biochemical materials become the foundation of pharmaceutical developments; young researchers in the IUCr schools have the opportunity to look beyond their expertise and seek inspiration in other fields. We are very fortunate that the IUCr builds on the strength we have in our discipline while also engaging in interdisciplinary science. Having the IUCr Representatives working with other organizations secures IUCr's leading role in developing international science.

* see http://www.iucr.org/index.html/leading-article/2009/2009-03-06