What is the American Union of Crystallography (AUC)?

The American Union of Crystallography (AUC) is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization established in 2025 to represent and support the US crystallographic community at both national and international levels. It was formed in response to the USA National Science Foundation’s (NSF) decision not to fund the US National Committee for Crystallography (USNC/Cr). As a result, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) will cease serving as the US adhering body to the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr), effective January 1, 2026. While NSF will continue to support other national scientific committees directly, it has ended centralized funding through the NAS, necessitating the creation of the AUC as an independent successor.

The AUC was officially incorporated in the state of Delaware on April 22, 2024, and received Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) nonprofit status on August 21, 2025. On September 4, 2025, the IUCr Executive Committee granted the AUC ad interim adhering body status, effective January 1, 2026, enabling it to represent the USA to the IUCr until the General Assembly in Calgary in 2026.

Mission and Core Objectives

The AUC serves as the national voice for US crystallographers and is committed to advancing crystallographic science through the following objectives:

·       Represent US crystallographers to the IUCr.

·       Advocate strong, sustained support of crystallographic research.

·       Promote interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate scientific discovery.

·       Support education and training for the next generation of crystallographers.

·       Expand outreach to showcase real-world applications of crystallography.

·       Steward the USNC/Cr’s financial resources responsibly.

·       Operate as a volunteer-led organization responsive to community needs.

·       Recognize and celebrate distinguished members of the community.

Current Priorities

With nonprofit status and international recognition in place, the AUC is focused on the following immediate priorities:

·       Supporting US-based education and training initiatives, including student travel to the IUCr Congress.

·       Managing the newly established George M. Sheldrick Award for Contributions to Structural Science.

·       Contributing to the success of the 2026 IUCr Congress and General Assembly in Canada.

·       Establishing key committees on Workforce & Education, Finance, Ethics, and other areas as needed.

·       Managing and growing the legacy funds originally held by NAS to support US crystallography.

Governance and Community Engagement

To ensure transparency and continuity, all current USNC/Cr members will serve on the AUC Board through 2025. Beginning in 2026, Board members will be selected through an open and inclusive nomination process, with active involvement from the US National Division of the American Crystallographic Association (USND, ACA). The AUC’s bylaws are modelled on those of the USNC/Cr, and the organization is committed to continued community input as it grows.

Why Not the ACA or USND?

The ACA is a regional affiliate representing both US and Canadian crystallographers and is not structured to take on US-specific international responsibilities. The USND, while created as a possible successor to the USNC/Cr, is not a standalone legal entity and therefore cannot function as an independent 501(c)(3) organization.

A Call to Action

The AUC invites all members of the US crystallographic community to support its leadership, mission, and transition by:

·       Participating in AUC initiatives through service, collaboration, and advocacy.

·       Supporting the transfer of NAS-held legacy funds to the AUC for continued stewardship. 

We ask the worldwide crystallographic community to support the AUC by voting to make it the permanent adhering body representing the US at the General Assembly in Calgary in August 2026.

Together, we can ensure a strong, sustainable, and globally connected future for US crystallography.