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American Crystallographic Association

[Cheryl Stevens] Cheryl Stevens

The annual ACA meeting in Honolulu was both a scientific and social success, with 767 attendees. Crystallography informs many diverse areas of science; more and more our meetings have become venues for educating members in the theory and applications of crystallography in disciplines other than their own. The four-day meeting format made it challenging to fit in the 3 workshops, the 20 oral sessions (263 talks) and 3 evening poster sessions (291 presentations). However, despite the beautiful surroundings and the near perfect weather, all were well attended. A record 78 students were given travel grants to support their attendance. The first Bau Neutron Diffraction Award was presented to Tom Koetzle, the Frankuchen Award went to Richard Dickerson (as Dick was not able to attend, Alex McPherson presented a retrospective on Dickerson’s work). The Trueblood Award went to Tom Terwilliger, and Eric Ortlund won the Etter Early Career Award. The strategic planning committee met in Hawaii and established action items to help us move forward. Each committee member had an assignment. Action items are related to organizational structure by-laws, marketing, education and expanding involvement of members. We are committed to continuing the process until we have developed a plan for the future ACA.

As we consider where we are going, I think it is important to remember where we have been and to remember the colleagues and friends we have lost recently; Jerome Karle (past ACA and IUCr president), Ray Davis (past ACA president), Charles Caughlan (local chair for the Bronzman ACA meeting back in 1964) and Dave Rognlie (known to crystallographers as the smiling face of Blake Industries). Each of these individuals contributed to our community and each will be missed.

Cheryl Stevens
30 October 2013