The Executive Committee of the European Crystallographic Association (ECA) convened its winter meeting from March 9th to 11th, 2025, in Montpellier, France. Hosted graciously by the Science Faculty of the University of Montpellier at the Triolet Campus, the meeting was conducted in a hybrid format. Two committee members participated remotely, while crystallographers from across Europe—including Sweden, Greece, Poland, Ukraine, France, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, and Paris, France—joined for specific agenda items.
A primary focus of the meeting was the ECA’s core activities: the European Crystallographic Meetings (ECMs) and Schools (ECSs), as well as the association’s support for young crystallographers through travel grants and financial assistance for schools, workshops, and outreach initiatives.
The organizers of ECM34 (Padova, Italy) presented a near-final report on the congress’s preparations, while the organizers of ECM35 (Lviv-Poznan) provided an update on their progress since August 2024. The Executive Committee discussed with the ECM35 organizers how to best organize a tribute to George M. Sheldrick. Additionally, updates were provided on the forthcoming ECS10 in Ohrid, North Macedonia, and the ongoing planning for ECS11 in Stockholm, Sweden.
The committee also explored ways to enhance and expand support for young crystallographers. Thanks to an improved financial position, the ECA will be able to offer special grants for research group exchanges. Details of these grants will be finalized and presented at the next Council Meeting during ECM35.
The meeting was productive and comprehensive, but time was also allocated for two dinners in Montpellier’s historic center and a brief sightseeing visit to the Tour de la Babote, reputedly the site of the first parachute test.
The Executive Committee extends its sincere gratitude to the Science Faculty of the University of Montpellier for providing the meeting space, and to Ionut Stroia and Christelle Floutier of the Institut Européen des Membranes for managing the coffee and tea breaks.
