European Crystallography School

ECA is committed to promote continuous high-level education in crystallography. European Crystallography Schools (ECS) are the central component of ECA’s educational activities. These Schools are regular events hosted annually or biannually, each time in a different country. In 2014, the first European Crystallography School (ECS1) took place in Pavia. Each School offers basic training in crystallography; advanced subjects in crystallography may be included by the School organizer, who justifies the choice of subjects when applying for the School. Advanced subjects alternate between European Crystallography Schools to ensure coverage of all aspects of crystallography. Schools employ a truly international faculty of renowned teachers, thus helping aggregate future scientists, and serving as a seed for new European scientific networks. Organization of a School at the European level may allow or require funding from various sources including European initiatives, such as the Erasmus Intensive Program. In this way, students or young scientists from countries where crystallography is less developed will find excellent opportunities for their advanced education and for starting new contacts and collaborations. European Crystallography Schools are not expected to make financial profits.

In addition to European Crystallography Schools, ECA regularly provides financial support to local schools, workshops and conferences within the ECA region, including Europe, as well as Africa and the Middle East (typically at least 5000 Euros per annum overall as student bursaries). ECA maintains its strong commitment to provide regular support to these local initiatives.

Next ECS

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See you in Nancy, France (2024)

ECS9, the 2024 European Crystallographic School, is planned as an in-presence event.

The school will be held in  Nancy, at the site of the Faculté des Sciences et Technologies of Université de Lorraine.

The ECS9 edition will focus on the improving of crystallography skills: from basic structure analysis to understanding of chemical bonds, bonding interactions and structure-properties relationships in materials. Main sections will deal with:
(i)  An introduction to X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) theory
(ii) Structure determination and analysis
(iii) Packing and interaction analyses
(iv) Using aspherical models of the electron density distribution
(v)  Crystallography under constrains.

Registration for ECS9 is now open until 28th February 2024.

For more details, and to register, follow this link.

Future ECSs

To be announced in September 2023

Past ECSs

 ECS-8 Berlin (Germany) 19 – 23 Juin 2023  ECS-7 Lisbon (Portugal) 10 – 15 July 2022

 
 ECS-6 Budapest (Hungary) 4 – 10 July 2021  ECS-5 Stellenbosch (South-Africa) 8 – 14 July 2018
   
 ECS-4 Warsaw (Poland) 2 – 7 July 2017 ECS-3: Bol (Croatia) September 25 – October 2, 2016
 
ECS-2: Mieres (Asturias, Spain), 31st August – 5th September 2015 ECS-1: Pavia (Italy): 28th August – 6th September, 2014