Christin Wiggers
Report of GLOMAR PhD student Christin Wiggers about her participation in the "International Union of Chrystallography (IUCr)" Conference in Melbourne, Australia from 23 to 29 August 2023
The International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) Conference, held every three years, took place from the 23rd to the 29th of August 2023. This year it was held in the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Australia. As this was my first conference during my Ph.D. it was a great opportunity to establish connections with scientists from diverse disciplines and regions across the globe. The days before the conference workshops were organized. I attended the workshop “Next-generation atomistic-level structural modelling using combined powder and single-crystal scattering data”.
The welcome event on the evening prior to the conference was an inviting start, as it provided an opportunity to engage with other scientists on a more informal basis. There were some delicious food stands and a show about Australia’s endangered animals. Some of the animals were also carried around the venue, so you could get up close and learn more about each species.
Each morning started with two keynote presentations with three parallel sessions each. Then before lunch, it was time for the poster sessions. My poster was displayed during the initial two days of the conference. The discussions I had were immensely valuable and will undoubtedly enhance the quality and direction of my research. The afternoon consisted of two micro symposiums, with up to 10 parallel sessions and a software fair. Several sessions stood out to me due to their significance and relevance to my own research. These included sessions on "Diffuse Scattering Analysis of Short-Range Crystal and Magnetic Order," "Complex Structures of Minerals and Inorganic Materials," and "Total Scattering Studies of Disordered Materials". Alongside the standard program, three plenary talks were organized and took place on Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as in the morning on the last day of the conference.
When there were no plenary talks or events scheduled in the evening, I had time to explore the city and its attractions. On the final evening, I attended the "Night of the Museum" event held at the Melbourne Museum, where food stations were set up and a band performed later in the evening.
In conclusion, attending the IUCr Conference was a rewarding experience that allowed me to network with experts from around the world, learn about different research fields, and establish personal and professional contacts. The diversity of topics and methods covered, along with the opportunity to engage with fellow researchers, made this conference a valuable and enriching event. I look forward to applying the knowledge gained during the conference to advance my research and contribute to the field of crystallography.
