The International Year of Crystallography

IYCr2014 aims at improving public awareness of the field, boost access to instrumentation and high-level research, nurture "home-grown" crystallographers in developing nations, and increase international collaborations for the benefit of future generations. The IUCr-UNESCO OpenLab is a network of operational crystallographic laboratories based mainly in Africa, Asia and South America, and implemented in partnership with industry. The OpenLabs will enable students in far-flung lands to have hands-on training in modern techniques and expose them to cutting-edge research in the field. Such project was started based on the strong experience gained through the IUCr Initiative in Africa . The Summit meetings are intended to bring together scientists from countries in three widely separated parts of the world. Karachi (Pakistan), Campinas (Brazil) and Bloemfontein (South Africa). These meetings, attended by scientists from academia and industry and by science administrators, will focus on high-level science, and also highlight the difficulties and problems of conducting competitive scientific research in different parts of the developing world. Moreover, a worldwide crystal-growing competition aims at attracting and inspiring youngsters.