Growing a thriving international community for small‐angle scattering through collaboration

• Published in: Journal of applied crystallography Vol. 54; no. 4; pp. 1029 - 1033
• Main Author: Trewhella, Jill
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 5 Abbey Square, Chester, Cheshire CH1 2HU, England International Union of Crystallography 01-08-2021; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Collaboration; Crystallography; Guinier Prize; International Union of Crystallography; IUCr; Meetings; SAS; Scattering; small‐angle scattering; triennial SAS conferences; standards; SAS; IUCr; triennial SAS conferences; Guinier Prize; International Union of Crystallography; small-angle scattering
• ISSN: 1600-5767; 0021-8898; 1600-5767
• DOI: 10.1107/S1600576721007561

Small‐angle scattering emerged as a tool for studying noncrystalline structures from early observations around 1930 that there was a relationship between the extent of the scattering and the size of the scattering object. André Guinier, a leading figure in the development of the field, noted in his summary findings from the first Conference on Small Angle Scattering in 1958 that the technique would be of value to study `submicroscopical inhomogeneities' and further provided a means of `observation [that had] in the past restricted the field of application of the X‐ray method.' In 1965 the first of what became a highly successful series of Small‐Angle Scattering (SAS) meetings held approximately every three years took place in Syracuse, NY, USA, and many of these ongoing meetings published their proceedings and highlights in the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) Journal of Applied Crystallography. Since the early 2000s, the relationship between the international SAS community represented at the triennial SAS meetings and the IUCr has been strengthened and deepened through formal cooperation and collaboration in a number of mutually beneficial activities that have supported the growth and health of the field and the IUCr.
This commentary describes the growth of small‐angle scattering as a technique for structural characterization in noncrystalline systems across chemistry, biology and materials and how the international community continues to grow and prosper through highly successful international meetings and a strategic collaborative relationship with the International Union of Crystallography.