SGK/SSCr: Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Kristallographie
In April 2019, the Jungfraujoch High-Altitude Research Station was awarded the Chemical Landmark 2019. Our society co-organized on 25 April a successful symposium 'On the Top' on environmental science at the University of Bern and was represented at the plaque-unveiling ceremony at the Jungfraujoch the next day.
In September 2019, an excellent annual meeting organized by Dr. Pascal Schouwink was held at the EPFL in Sion around the topic 'Energy Materials - From Bulk to Surface Crystallography' and brought together contributions from different crystallographic disciplines that do not necessarily encounter each other on a daily basis. Three topical sessions provided a framework for the general scientific program: (1) in-situ and in-operando studies, (2) surface-sensitive X-ray scattering and nanoscopic order and (3) structural investigations using X-ray and electron diffraction. Our prestigious PhD prize was awarded to Dr. Luzia German from the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart, Germany, who gave insight into her doctoral thesis about the exploration of polymorphism in co-crystals using mechano-chemistry and in-situ powder diffraction during ball-milling. The poster session of 16 posters complimented the scientific program; the poster prize was given to Chethana Gadiyar for her very didactic poster on the nanocrystal-seeded synthesis of photocathodes.
In November 2019, the Swiss Society for Crystallography invited Prof. Matthew J. Rosseinsky of the University of Liverpool, UK for its one-week 'Howard Flack Lecture Series'. His research relates to new materials for solid oxide fuel cells, ceramic gas separation and catalytic membranes. Matt Rosseinsky lectured from the 4th to the 8th of November 2019 with an exciting science program at five different Swiss research institutions: PSI, CSEM, Fribourg, EPFL and Empa. This was accompanied by a visit to the host laboratories and was well received by an enthusiastic audience at the various locations. This highly successful lecture series was established in 2018 and promotes crystallography and related scientific results obtained by the community and will continue in the future.
The traditional 'Zurich School of Crystallography' was held at the University of Zurich during June 2019. Its format, where each tutor personally mentors two students and there is a maximum of 20 participants, is much appreciated by the attendees. The event is organized biennially and has now become firmly established in the crystallographic community's calendar; its success is based on a great combination of theory and practical work.
Many Swiss crystallographers attended the general assembly of the European Crystallographic Meeting, ECM32, held in Vienna (Austria) from 18 to 23 August 2019. Switzerland used this science platform actively and was among the most represented countries; many researchers, including young scientists, had the opportunity to present their results to an excellent audience. The Swiss Section of Crystal Growth was represented at the 19th International Conference on Crystal Growth (Keystone, CO, USA, August 2019) with two oral contributions. Despite the small size of our crystal growth community, since several years in a row it represents Switzerland with several oral and keynote lectures at international conferences on crystal growth.
Two issues of the Society Newsletter: No. 101 and No. 102
The 'Howard Flack Crystallographic Lecture Series' with Prof. Matthew Rosseinsky from the University of Liverpool, UK giving 5 lectures in 5 days (PSI, CSEM in NE, University of Fribourg, EPFL Lausanne & Empa in Dübendorf, November 4-8, 2019)
The Zurich School of Crystallography 'Bring Your Own Crystals' (University of Zurich, June 16 - 27, 2019)
Annual Meeting of the Swiss Society for Crystallography (EPFL Valais, Sion, September 4, 2019)
Chemical Landmark Award 2019 with the Symposium 'On the Top' on environmental science (University of Bern, April 25-26, 2019)
The Swiss Society for Crystallography SSCr is part of the European Crystallographic Association and our delegates attended the Council meeting of the European Crystallographic Association and all sessions of the special interest groups of this association during the European Crystallography Meetings (ECMs).
The Swiss Society for Crystallography SSCr is also an adhering body of the International Union of Crystallography, IUCr. A number of Swiss crystallographers are active members in IUCr Commissions.
The new partnership with the German Association of Crystal Growth (DGKK) continues to grow, as shown by the official welcome address that the SGK/SSCr has published for the 50th jubilee of the DGKK in 2019. (https://doi.org/10.1002/crat.201900137)
In 2019, 6 young researchers have been supported with travel grants for different international workshops and conferences.
1) Ilia Kochetygov, Laboratory for Functional Inorganic Materials, EPFL Valais, Sion: Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Nanoporous Materials and Their Applications, Andover, NH, U.S., August 4-9, 2019.
2) Pascal F. Meier, Stockholm, University of Zürich and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Stockholm University, Sweden: Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) and Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Organellar Channels and Transporters, Mount Snow, West Dover, VT, USA, August 4-9, 2019.
3) Andrzej Gladysiak, Laboratory of Molecular Simulation, EPFL Valais, Sion: 4th UK Porous Materials Conference, Cardiff, UK, July 1?2, 2019.
4) Rebecca Scatena, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern: International School of Crystallography of Erice - Magnetic Crystallography, Erice, Italy, 31.05. - 09.06.2019.
5) Michelle Ernst, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern: Workshop 'Tools For Chemical Bonding', Bremen, Germany, July 14-19, 2019.
6) Serhii Vasylevskyi, Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg: European Crystallographic Meeting ECM-32 in Vienna, Austria, August 18-23, 2019.
Two issues of the Society Newsletter: No. 101 and No. 102