Introduction to Crystallographic Techniques

To promote the development of research as well as constant training, the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo and the Department of Chemistry of the Faculty of Sciences organized the First International Congress of Chemistry Ecuador 2018 (I-CIQ-Ec-18) and the Pre-Congress Course "Introduction to Crystallographic Techniques" in Riobamba, Ecuador, with the collaboration of the IUCr, the Latin American Crystallographic Association (LACA) and the International Center for Diffraction Data (ICDD).

Pre-Congress Course (27-30 July 2018)

The Course was attended by students, teachers and researchers from different universities, mainly from the central region of the country, including the Central University of Ecuador, the University of the Armed Forces (ESPE), the University Yachay Tech, the Technical University of Ambato and the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. The participants came from different areas: chemistry, biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, geology and mines, mechanics, biochemistry, nanotechnology, chemical engineering and polymer engineering.

The Course was aimed at introducing crystallography and crystallographic techniques to promote the development of crystallography in Ecuador as well as satisfying the need for specialized training in the area of analysis by crystallographic techniques. Its objectives were as follows:

• to transmit the principles of crystallography and the qualitative and quantitative applications of powder diffraction
• to introduce the principles of the analysis of powder and monocrystalline samples by X-ray diffraction
• to interpret the procedures for refining and determining crystalline structures using the Rietveld method.

The trainers were IUCr Visiting Professors Diego Lamas (Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Argentina) and Graciela Díaz del Delgado (Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela), and Miguel Delgado (Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela).

First International Congress of Chemistry (31 July-2 August 2018)

The Congress was held to promote scientific research at the national level through the dissemination of research results in the area of chemistry, proposing the following objectives:

• to invite recognized national and international researchers in the field of chemistry
• to present to the academic community the testimony and experiences of one of the winners of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Ada Yonath
• to exchange research results in the area of chemistry
• to promote the structuring of research networks.

This event also included the participation of Professors Lamas and Díaz de Delgado, who gave the keynote lectures “The History and Current Impact of Crystallography” and “Characterization of Drugs and Medications by X-ray Diffraction in Polycrystalline and Mono-Crystal Samples”, respectively.

Principal guest Ada Yonath (fourth from left) with organizers and speakers.

Professors Lamas, Díaz de Delgado and Delgado also participated in the event recognizing the Nobel Laureate Ada Yonath, which took place in the municipality of the city of Riobamba, and in a meeting with teachers and researchers from the Faculty of Sciences to establish networks and contacts for future projects.

Both the Pre-Congress Course and the Congress were received very well, exceeding expectations. There was interest in crystallography as well as analytical techniques, raising the possibility of working towards the development of an OpenLab in Ecuador.

The Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, the Faculty of Sciences, Chemistry Department and the Organizing Committee of the I-CIQ-Ec-18 thank the IUCr, LACA and the ICDD for their support in developing both the Pre-Congress Course as well as for the participation of their representatives as keynote speakers in the Congress.