Summer 2026 Newsletter:
From the President – Joseph D. Ferrara

2026 continues to be a formative year for the American Union of Crystallography (AUC). We have moved from organizing the transition from the former U. S. National Committee for Crystallography (USNC/Cr) to actively carrying out the responsibilities of the U.S. adhering body to the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr). With IUCr2026 in Calgary now approaching, the AUC is focused on U.S. representation at the General Assembly, support for student participation, recognition of scientific achievement through the George M. Sheldrick Prize, and the continued development of AUC governance and community programs.

This newsletter provides an update on our summer activities and highlights several important steps as we prepare for IUCr2026.

Preparing for the IUCr2026 in Calgary

The 27th IUCr Congress and General Assembly will be held in Calgary, Canada, 11–18 August 2026. The AUC is serving as one of the joint host organizations, together with the American Crystallographic Association (ACA) and the Canadian National Committee for Crystallography (CNCC).

The IUCr General Assembly (GA) will meet three times during the Congress: GA1 on Wednesday, August 12; GA2 on Thursday, August 13; and GA3 on Sunday, August 16. The U.S. delegation will meet before each General Assembly session to coordinate its work.

Transition to Permanent Adhering Body
A major priority for the AUC at the GA will be the transition from ad interim adhering body to the permanent adhering body for the United States. This is an essential step in ensuring continuity of U.S. representation within the IUCr following the transition from the USNC/Cr to the AUC. The GA agenda includes items related to adherence to the Union, applications for membership, changes in adhering bodies, and elections of IUCr officers and commission members.

The AUC thanks the U. S. National Division of the ACA (USND) for its work in helping select the U.S. delegates for IUCr2026. Their assistance has been critical during this transition year and has helped ensure that the United States will be well represented in Calgary.

U.S. Delegation to the IUCr General Assembly

The names of the U.S. delegates have been forwarded to IUCr headquarters, and the delegation has received the General Assembly documents from the IUCr Executive. The U.S. delegation for IUCr2026 consists of:

·      Joseph Ferrara, Chair
·      Sarah E. J. Bowman
·      Ilia A. Guzei
·      Cora Lind-Kovacs
·      Allen G. Oliver

Lisa J. Keefe will serve as first alternate, and Nicholas Sauter will serve as second alternate. In addition to supporting the AUC’s transition to permanent adhering body status, the delegation will participate in General Assembly business, including commission matters, IUCr policy discussions, and elections.

2026 AUC George M. Sheldrick Prize

The AUC is pleased to recognize Professor Stephanie Wankowicz of Vanderbilt University as the recipient of the 2026 AUC George M. Sheldrick Prize. The Sheldrick Prize recognizes outstanding contributions to molecular structure determination, including innovative methods, algorithms, and software. Professor Wankowicz’s work introduces entropic flexibility into computational structural biology, advancing a field that has long been shaped by static structural models. Her research reflects the spirit of the Sheldrick Prize by combining methodological innovation with broad impact in structural science.

The Board has also reviewed proposed updates to the Sheldrick Prize in coordination with the ECA. These include broadening the geographical scope of the prize, clarifying candidate eligibility, refining the scope of the prize, changing the terminology from “Award” to “Prize,” and requiring the recipient to give a keynote lecture when appropriate. The AUC thanks the Education, Workforce Development and Outreach Committee for its work in selecting this year’s prize winner and for supporting the continued development of this important recognition program.

IUCr Student Travel Scholarships

Supporting students and early-career crystallographers remains a central part of the AUC mission. The 2026 AUC Student Travel Scholarship recipients are:

Tom Bonzon (Baylor University) – $1,000
Gabriella Ruiz (UCLA) – $1,000
Jitendra Singh (University at Buffalo) – $1,000

The awardees will receive their travel scholarship checks at IUCr2026. We thank the Education, Workforce Development and Outreach Committee for its work in reviewing applications and selecting the travel grant recipients.

Governance and 2027-2029 Nominations

The AUC is beginning preparations for its next leadership cycle. A Nominating Committee has been established for the upcoming ballot, with Nicholas Sauter serving as chair. The committee also includes Efrain Rodriguez, Christine Beavers, and Ed Eng from the AUC and Brent Nannenga, Cora Lind-Kovacs, and Brian Toby from the USND.

The committee will be looking for candidates for Vice Chair for 2027–2029 and four new Directors for the same period. This is an important opportunity to continue building a Board that reflects the breadth of U.S. crystallography across disciplines, career stages, institutions, and scientific communities.

Outreach, Communications, and IUCr Presence

The AUC will have a visible presence at IUCr2026 through the shared AUC/ACA/CNCC booth. The booth will provide an opportunity to meet colleagues, explain the AUC’s mission, discuss support for U.S. crystallography, and encourage broader participation in AUC activities.

US National Committee for Crystallography Documents: The AUC has received a tranche of USNC/Cr historical documents from the National Academy of Sciences. The collection includes meeting minutes and General Assembly reports dating back to 1999. Please contact the AUC if you are interested in reviewing these records.

Support the AUC

The AUC continues to rely on community support to advance its mission. Donations to the general fund support the operating infrastructure needed to represent U.S. crystallography, maintain programs, and build long-term capacity. Donations to the Sheldrick Prize fund help sustain the prize for future IUCr Congress cycles. We are grateful to all donors and sponsors who have helped the AUC move from launch to active service. Your support is especially important in this inaugural year.

Looking Ahead

The coming weeks will be significant for the AUC and for U.S. crystallography. At IUCr2026, we will support our student travel awardees, recognize the 2026 Sheldrick Prize recipient, represent the United States in the IUCr General Assembly, and work toward confirmation of the AUC as the permanent U.S. adhering body to the IUCr. On behalf of the AUC leadership, thank you for your continued support and engagement.

Joseph D. Ferrara

President and Chair

Lisa J. Keefe

Vice Chair

Ilia A. Guzei

Treasurer

Allen G. Oliver

Secretary

Spring 2026 Newsletter:
From the President – Joseph D. Ferrara

Spring 2026 marks an important moment for the American Union of Crystallography. As we continue building the organization’s capacity to serve the U.S. structural science community, we are also preparing for a major international milestone: the 27th IUCr Congress and General Assembly, to be held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, from 11–18 August 2026.

This season, we are especially pleased to share progress in three areas central to the AUC mission: recognizing excellence in structural science, supporting the next generation of crystallographers, and strengthening the financial foundation needed to sustain our work.

One of the most exciting developments is the announcement of the inaugural George M. Sheldrick Awardee. The AUC Education and Workforce Development Committee has selected Professor Stephanie A. Wankowicz of Vanderbilt University as the 2026 recipient of the George M. Sheldrick Award for Contributions to Structural Science.

This award honors outstanding early-career contributions to molecular structure determination, including the development of innovative methods, algorithms, and software. Professor Wankowicz’s work has helped bring entropic flexibility into computational structural biology, an area that has often been constrained by static models of structure refinement. She has also been a strong advocate for reproducibility and best practices in structural bioinformatics, contributions that reflect the broader spirit of the award.

The Sheldrick Award will be presented at the 27th IUCr Congress in Calgary. In addition to a $3,000 monetary prize, the award includes payment of Congress registration fees, an award certificate, and the opportunity to deliver a keynote lecture. Professor Wankowicz’s keynote is currently scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, at 9:00 AM.

The AUC is also proud to support student participation in IUCr2026 through a new scholarship program. Recognizing the importance of international scientific exchange for trainees and early-career researchers, the AUC will award three $1,000 scholarships to help U.S.-based undergraduate and graduate students attend the Congress.

Applicants are asked to submit a short video, no more than three minutes in length, showing how crystallography relates to their research or interests; a one-page statement describing what they hope to achieve by attending the Congress; and their supervisor’s contact information, so that a letter of support may be requested. The scholarship competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students studying in the United States, and the application deadline is March 27, 2026. We encourage faculty mentors, advisors, and supervisors to share this opportunity widely with eligible students.

Momentum is also building around the Congress itself. Following the close of oral abstract submissions, the IUCr2026 organizing team reported a total of 1,746 abstracts, including 1,282 oral submissions and 464 poster submissions. This strong response reflects both the vitality of the field and the enthusiasm surrounding the Calgary meeting. As the program moves into its next phase, abstracts will be assigned to session chairs, reviewed by the Program Committee, and organized into final session lineups. Poster submissions continue to be an important avenue for participation, and we encourage colleagues to keep promoting the Congress in their departments, laboratories, and professional networks.

At the same time, the AUC continues to strengthen its financial footing. As of February 16, 2026, the organization held funds across three Wells Fargo checking accounts as follows:

Account Name                                                           Balance
AUC Main (Operating Funds)                                   $13,245
AUC Sheldrick Award (Restricted Funds)               $17,375
AUC Reserve Account                                                     $500
Total Cash on Hand                                                   $31,120

This represents meaningful progress as the AUC transitions into a more fully developed independent nonprofit organization. These funds provide essential support for operations, scholarships, awards, outreach, and future programming. They also reflect the generosity of donors and supporters who believe in the importance of a strong national organization dedicated to crystallography and structural science in the United States.

To help guide long-term stewardship, the AUC has also developed a formal Investment Policy Statement, an important step in ensuring that organizational assets are managed prudently and responsibly as the AUC continues to grow. Thoughtful financial governance will be essential not only for maintaining current operations, but also for sustaining future awards, educational activities, and community initiatives.

Although our position is stronger than it was only a few months ago, this remains a formative period for the organization. Continued support will allow the AUC to expand student opportunities, strengthen U.S. participation in international meetings, support outreach and education, and build the infrastructure needed to serve the structural science community over the long term.

You can help by making a personal contribution to the AUC general fund or to the Sheldrick Award fund, by encouraging your institution or company to sponsor AUC-supported programs, and by sharing information about student scholarships and IUCr2026 opportunities with colleagues and trainees. Every contribution helps broaden the impact of the AUC and strengthen the future of crystallography in the United States.

We look forward to sharing additional updates in the months ahead through the AUC website, social media, and future newsletters. Thank you for your continued support and for all that you do to advance crystallography and structural science.

Joseph D. Ferrara, President and Chair
Lisa J. Keefe, Vice Chair
Ilia A. Guzei, Treasurer
Allen G. Oliver, Secretary

Every three years, the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) convenes its Congress and General Assembly. In 2026, more than 2,000 structural scientists will gather in Calgary for eight days of scientific exchange, including 140 microsymposia spanning the breadth of crystallography and structural science. For students and early-career researchers, the opportunity to engage with the international community and emerging research directions can be truly career-shaping.

The American Union of Crystallography (AUC) will award three scholarships of $1,000 each to support U.S.-based undergraduate and graduate students attending the 2026 IUCr Congress in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Submit:

 A short video (≤ 3 minutes) showing how crystallography is relevant to your research or interests
 A one-page statement describing what you hope to accomplish by attending the IUCr Congress
 Your supervisor’s contact information, so we may request a letter of support

Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students studying in the United States

Deadline: March 27, 2026

Questions:  Please contact  Christine Beavers via LinkedIn

2025 has been a foundational year for the American Union of Crystallography. We have secured our legal and financial footing, been recognized by the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) as the  ad interim adhering body for the United States and launched the George M. Sheldrick Award for Contributions to Structural Science. 

At the same time, we are preparing to support the community through education, outreach, and participation in the 27th IUCr Congress in Calgary in August 2026.

This newsletter provides an overview of our recent activities and outlines how you can help ensure a strong future for US crystallography.