The topics of the Conference will highlight results of interdisciplinary research and development of neutron instruments and techniques, including:

• Functional and nanostructured materials;
• Magnetic colloid systems;
• Layered magnetic nanostructures;
• Carbon nanostructures;
• Materials under extreme conditions;
• Soft condensed matter (biological nanosystems, lipid membranes, polymers);
• Lattice and molecular dynamics of materials;
• Texture and properties of rocks and minerals; - Residual stresses in materials and products;
• Neutron imaging;
• Development of IBR-2 instruments;
• Development of neutron scattering techniques; - Development of neutron detectors.

HERCULES is a European course for PhD students and young researchers using Neutrons and Synchrotron Radiation for applications in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Hard & Soft Condensed Matter.

   The 1-month school includes lectures (60%), hands-on practicals and tutorials at partner institutes (DESY and European XFEL in Hamburg, Ellettra and FERMI in Trieste, ESRF, ILL in Grenoble, Soleil and LLB near Paris, SLS in Switzerland) and Grenoble Laboratories (CEA, CNRS, EMBL, IBS).

   The school includes a common part and two parallel sessions:

• Biomolecular, soft condensed matter structure & dynamics
• Physics and chemistry of condensed matter

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   Why join Hercules ?

• to learn new techniques using neutron and synchrotron radiation
• to expand your theoretical and practical knowledge, not only for your present research but for your scientific career
• to experiment these techniques on world-class instruments & beamlines
• to build a network of relations with fellow young researchers and experienced teachers from all around the World

Deadline for application:Â Â 31 October 2015

Bursaries/reduced costs: a limited number of bursaries will be available either to reduce registration fees or cover travel costs.

Common Lectures:

• Interaction of X-rays and neutrons with matter (absorption, elastic and inelastic interactions, ...)
• Sources (neutron, synchrotron, XFEL)
• Detectors
• Optics &instrumentation
• Diffraction (single crystal, powder..)
• Scattering (elastic, inelastic..)
• Spectroscopy
• Imaging (Absorption, coherent,..)
• etc.
  

Session A: Applications to Biomolecular, Soft Condensed matter, Structure and Dynamics

• Protein structure and dynamics
• Studies in solutions
• Partially ordered systems
• Membranes, fibres and muscles
• Crystallography of viruses and ribosomes
• Structural genomics
• Biomedical applications (imaging, therapy)
• Time-resolved and ultra-fast X-ray science
• Biology with 4th generation sources
• etc.
  

Session B: Applications to Physics and Chemistry of Condensed Matter

• Neutron and X-ray (and UV and IR) spectroscopies
• X-ray reflectivity and diffraction of nano systems
• Single crystal and powder diffraction
• Coherent imaging and tomography
• Neutron and X-ray magnetic scattering
• Polarized X-rays and neutrons
• FEL and ultra fast X-ray science
  
• etc.

Topics

Plenary Lectures

Microsymposia

MS3. From Nature to Advanced Materials: Structure Characterization at the Nanoscale

MS4. New Topics in Crystal Growth Research

MS5. Nanostructures and Nanoscale Phenomena

MS6. Crystal Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds for the Understanding of Their Properties and Stability

MS7. Imaging Biomolecular Machines in Action through Cryo-Electron Diffraction and Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Focus Area Contacts

Focus Area 1: Michael Hennig, Basel for SIG 1:

Focus Area 2: Jürg Schefer, Paul Scherrer Institute Villigen, for SIG 5, 11, 12

Focus Area 3: Piero Macchi, Berne, for SIG 2, SIG 3, SIG 4

Focus Area 4: Katharina Fromm, Fribourg, for SIG 7 and SIG 13

Focus Area 5: Radovan Cerny, Geneva, for SIG 6, SIG 8 and SIG 9

Featuring five parallel workshops representing a wide range of research interests, the Diamond Synchrotron Radiation User Meeting offers opportunities to hear about the latest in synchrotron research and technique developments, along with the chance to network with colleagues from Diamond and the synchrotron user community.

Workshops
• Current Issues in Energy Research
• MX and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS)
• PDF Analysis: The Local Point of View of Materials Development
• Soft X-ray Full-field Imaging and Scanning Microscopy
• Transition Metal Oxides, Superconductivity and Interfaces

The school is targeted towards researchers interested in applying representational analysis for solving magnetic structures with neutron diffraction. Â The school will cover representational analysis and the theory of magnetic structures. Â The program will include both lectures and labs working with software such as SaraH and FULLPROF. Â This year, we will also cover magnetic symmetry tools developed on the Bilbao crystallographic server. Â Invited lecturers include Andrew Wills (U. College, London), Â V. Ovidiu Garlea (ORNL), Â Clarina Dela Cruz (ORNL), Â and Juan Manuel Perez-Mato (Universidad del Pais Vasco). Â Â Â

The school will be hosted at the University of Maryland College Park campus and participants can stay on campus at discounted prices. Â The school will begin Monday morning, August 3rd, and end Thursday late afternoon, August 6th. Â Â

The deadline for early registration is May 31, 2015. Â Attendance will be limited to 30 participants, so please apply soon. Â

Towards Molecules Performing Useful Work

Topics

• Energy Conversion and Storage Materials
• Wide Bandgap Materials
• Enabling Technologies
• Nanoscale Science and Technology in Materials
• Organic Materials and Thin Film Technology

• Solid Oxide Fuel Cells & Electrolyzers
• Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells & Electrolyzers
• Electrodes & Solid Electrolytes for Batteries
• Fundamentals of Transport and Reactivity & Nanoionics
• Transparent Conducting Oxides
• Solid State Photoelectrochemistry
• Switching and Sensing PhenomenaÂ
• High Temperature Routes for Solar Fuels
• Ion Transport in Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Solids
• Permeation Membranes
• Proton-conducting Oxides

One place, six conferences covering hot science trends. The main focus will be on Nanoscience & Nanotechnology in the fields of Graphene, Bio/Medicine, Optics, Photonics, Chemistry, Toxicology. Internationally renowned speakers will offer the attendees exceptional opportunities. The latest trends and discoveries in N&N from some of the world´s leading players in the field will be discussed.

Graphene2015

• Other 2 dimensional materials (Transition metal dichalcogenides, phosphorene, silicene, BN, topological insulators,....)
• Growth, synthesis techniques and integration methods
• Spectroscopies (Optics, Raman, EELS) and microscopies (HRTEM, STM, AFM)
• Chemistry of Graphene
• Quantum transport
• Magnetism and Spintronics
• Nanoelectromechanical systems
• Applications (gas sensors, composites, nanoelectronic devices...)

NanoSpain2015

NanoSpain Conference has been organized over the past 11 years and is a reference meeting of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (N&N) in Spain. Over the past years, NanoSpain conference became more and more multidisciplinary and 2015 won’t be an exception. Nanospain 2015 will change its format and will be divided into 4 thematic conferences in order to deepen the current research in different themes. The conference NanoSpain 2015 will also serve as a link between industry and researchers.

PPM2015: Photonics, Plasmonics, Magneto-Optics

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The thirteenth International Conference on Electron Spectroscopy and Structure: ICESS-15, will be held in Stony Brook, New York, Sept 28th to bring together some 400 people interested in the properties of electrons and their interactions in systems ranging from atoms and molecules to complex condensed matter materials. Specific topics fordiscussion will include Atomic and Molecular Science, Photochemistry, Quantum Materials, Imaging Spectroscopies, Novel Instrumentation, and Nanomaterials.

Electronic structure is one of the fundamental properties of matter, and as such has been the subject of scientific investigation for more than a century. Â However the last two decades have witnessed important new discoveries in all areas ranging from the atomic level through to that of complex materials. Â There have also been significant developments in new methods, both theoretical and experimental, for investigating these properties. Â Â New experimental techniques have often evolved at the large scale facilities and by 2015 it is anticipated that the new state-of-the-art synchrotron radiation source at BNL, the NSLS II will be operational. Â It is anticipated that attendees will have the opportunity to tour this important facility.

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From Model Studies to Complex Real World Systems

Surface Science Techniques for Addressing Contemporary Issues

To be held at the Institute of Solid State Chemistry and Mechanochemistry SB RAS

The workshop entitled “Molecular materials: from fundamentals to applications” will focus on various aspects of research into molecular materials ranging from fundamentals to applications. The following topics will be covered:

1. Polymorphism in Molecular Materials â€" control, prediction, and implications for applications.
2. Crystallisation of molecular materials under ambient and non-ambient conditions
3. In situ studies of molecular crystals and molecular materials â€" diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy, lattice dynamics
4. Solid-state chemical reactions of molecular materials - mechanochemistry

In 2013 the British Council has launched a new five-year programme to encourage international research collaboration between ambitious young researchers from the UK and nineteen countries around the world. In 2014 the British Council in Russia is partnering with the Royal Society of Chemistry to organise and deliver a chemistry-themed jointly funded Researcher Links workshop which will provide opportunities for 40 early career researchers from the UK and Russia to interact, learn from each other and explore opportunities for building long-lasting research collaborations.

The workshop will provide a unique opportunity for sharing research expertise and networking. During the workshops early career researchers will present their research in the form of a short oral (or poster) presentation and discuss this with established researchers from the UK and Russia. There will be a focus on building up links for future collaborations and participants will be selected on the basis of their research potential and ability to build longer term links.

The British Council and the Royal Society of Chemistry will jointly cover the costs related to participation in the workshop of UK and Russian researchers, including:
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• UK researchers: travel (both international and local), accommodation, Russian business visas;
• Russian researchers: travel and accommodation.

Miscellaneous event costs will also be covered (including at least 2 meals per day).

Coordinators

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Application and Deadline

Download the application form

Eligibility Criteria:
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Applications must be submitted using the Researcher Links application form
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Application must be submitted before the above deadline
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Participants must be early career researchers: Early Career Researchers are defined as holding a PhD (or MD) and having up to 10 years post-PhD research experience. They are equivalent to the ‘Recognised Researcher’ and sometimes ‘Experienced Researcher’ categories in the EU framework for researchers’ careers. http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/pdf/research_policies/ Towards_a_European_Framework_for_Research_Careers_final.pdf. Leading Researchers as defined by the EU Framework for researchers careers are research group leaders who are internationally recognised in their field.

Participants must have a research or academic position (either a permanent post, research contract, or fellowship etc.) at a recognised research institution either in the UK or in Russia.
Quality Assessment:
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• Experience and relevance of the applicant’s research area to the workshop
  
• Motivation and contribution to the aims of the workshop
  
• Description of the long term impact expected through the participation in the workshop
  
• Ability to disseminate workshop’s outcomes

Selection Procedure:

• Eligibility check
• Quality assessment

Notification of results:
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Applicants will be notified by email 2 months prior to the workshop.

Equal Opportunities

The British Council is committed to equal opportunities and diversity in all its activities and this includes the avoidance of any bias in the assessment of applications due to gender, disability, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or religious belief.  Participants’ selection undertaken by workshop organisers must not contravene this policy.  Extra support to enable participation of early career researchers with special needs will be given.