Spring 2025 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.