About the Committee

The U.S. National Committee for Crystallography (USNC/Cr) represents U.S. crystallographers in the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) through the National Academies’ National Research Council. The USNC/Cr promotes the advancement of the science of crystallography in the United States and throughout the world. Crystallography is a key tool for a variety of fields in biological and physical sciences. The USNC/Cr brings together crystallographers across these broad spectrums of fields. The IUCr is a member union of the International Council for Science.

By representing the broad U.S. crystallographic community, the USNC/Cr also serves a unique role in bringing together crystallographers with a wide range of perspectives. This role is increasingly important for maintaining a high level of professionalism in a community that spans several disciplines and professional societies and that needs communication and coordination internationally. The USNC/Cr will continue to seek to represent crystallographic leaders in the areas of biochemistry, structural biology, pharmaceuticals, materials research (including both amorphous materials and metals), surface studies, mineralogy, inorganic chemistry, powder diffraction, and crystal growth. Maintaining the vitality of crystallography is important to several university departments advancing science.

Charter

The USNC/Cr has been established to:

1. Promote the advancement of the science of crystallography in the United States and throughout the world.

2. Effect appropriate U.S. participation in the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) through the National Academy of Sciences, which adheres to the Union on behalf of crystallographers in the United States.

Functions

The Committee's primary functions are:

1. To inform crystallographers in the United States concerning the activities of the IUCr.
2. To advise the President of the National Academy of Sciences on matters pertaining to U.S. participation in the IUCr.
3. To nominate to the National Research Council persons to represent the crystallographers in the United States as delegates to the General Assemblies of the IUCr and other meetings sponsored by the Union.
4. To provide information and guidance for such delegates.
5. To plan and sponsor scientific meetings in the United States in consonance with the objectives of the IUCr.
6. To perform such other duties as are required of national committees of adhering countries under the statutes of the IUCr.
7. To take any other action directed toward the benefit and advancement of the science of crystallography in the United States and throughout the world.

Projects and Activities

United States Participation in IUCr

• Delegation to IUCr Congress
• Resolutions for IUCr General Assembly
• Nominations for IUCr Commissions and Committees

USNC/Cr Standing Subcommittees

• Nominating Subcommittee for Members and Officers
• Interdisciplinary Subcommittee

USNC/Cr Ad hoc Subcommittees

• Crystallographic Databases
• Crystallographic Education
• Publication Standards and Ethics
• Research Resources and Facilities
• Research and Travel Support

Collaborations and Joint Activities with other U.S. National Committees and International Groups:

• Exploring the use of Collaboratories or Virtual Laboratories for research and education
• Enabling new opportunities for collaborations and access to research resources
• Fostering communications through activities such as the Inter-American Workshop on the Use of Synchrotron Radiation for Research.