European Crystallographic Association

International AIC SCHOOL 2026
2026-07-20 - 2026-07-23 | Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari, Via Orabona, 4, Bari, Italy
Dear Colleagues,
the International AIC School 2026, organized under the auspices of the Italian Crystallographic Association (AIC), is a four-day educational event dedicated to exploring the world of crystallography, from its fundamental principles to its most innovative applications.
Hosted in the beautiful city of Bari (Italy), the School aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of both the theoretical foundations and the latest developments shaping modern crystallographic research.
Designed for young scientists, PhD students, and early-career researchers, the School offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from leading experts in the field. Through lectures, computing sessions, and discussions, participants will gain valuable insights into diffraction methods, structure determination, computational tools, and emerging frontiers such as nanoscale materials analysis and artificial intelligence.
Participants will also be invited to present their crystallographic research through poster sessions and short oral contributions, with a limited number of slots available for very brief talks.
With its balanced mix of foundational teaching and exposure to cutting-edge topics, the AIC School 2026 promises to be an enriching experience, a place to learn, share, and envision the future of crystallography in advancing materials science and related fields.
We look forward to welcoming you in Bari!
Angela Altomare and Aurelia Falcicchio
on behalf of the Scientific Committee and the Organizing Committee
International AIC School 2026

Diffraction Methods in Structural Biology 2026
2026-07-20 - 2026-07-25 | Harnack Haus, Berlin, Ihnestrasse 16-20, Berlin, 14195, Germany
We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for Diffraction Methods in Structural Biology 2026 (DiffMet2026). The registration deadline is April 30th, 2026.
Conference structure
• July 19–20: Early Career Diffraction Methods Seminar – a meeting primarily organized by and for early-career researchers
• From the evening of July 20 onward: Main DiffMet2026 Conference
Participants are welcome to attend both parts of the meeting.
Theme: Limitations & Expansions of Diffraction Methods in Structural Biology
DiffMet2026 focuses on diffraction-based methods in structural biology, emphasizing a deep understanding of current methodological limitations and exploring strategies to extend or transcend them through innovation and multimodal approaches.
Topics will include (but are not limited to):
• Time-resolved crystallography and its fundamental limits
• MicroED, XFEL, neutron diffraction, and synchrotron-based methods
• Detector performance, radiation damage, and achievable resolution
• Integration of diffraction with complementary techniques
• Roles and limitations of AI in data processing and structure prediction
Early Career Seminar: Growing the Future of Diffraction Methods
This seminar is aimed at early career researchers (i.e., students, postdocs, and all those not yet in a permanent position). It will include talks by the early career attendees, as well as a poster session in the evening of July 19th; please submit your oral/poster presentation abstracts by *April 30, 2026*. We will form the ECS scientific program on the basis of the submitted abstracts, so all diffraction methods-related topics are welcome! In addition to the scientific talks and posters by early career attendees, the ECS will also feature a keynote presentation by Montserrat Soler Lopez (ESRF) and a career panel.
Registration fee:
• €1200 (includes accommodation and all meals)

IUCr Computing School - Artificial Intelligence in Crystallography
2026-08-08 - 2026-08-11 | University of Lethbridge Campus, Canada
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming crystallographic research—from structure determination and data analysis to materials discovery. This school provides an in-depth, hands-on introduction to the principles and applications of AI in crystallography.
Unlike general tool-only workshops that focus on executing existing software, we aim to demystify the “black box,” empowering you to build symmetry-aware and physics-informed architectures from the ground up. Whether you are a graduate student, a structural biologist, a beamline scientist, a theoretical crystallographer, a developer or a data scientist working with crystallography groups, you will gain the critical skills necessary to frame problems effectively, ensuring your research is innovative, transparent and reproducible.

Materials Science and Engineering congress
2026-09-29 - 2026-10-01 | Darmstadt + online, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
On behalf of the German Materials Society (DGM), we are pleased to welcome you to the International Materials Science and Engineering Congress – MSE 2026 in Darmstadt, Germany. Crystallography, as a fundamental aspect of materials research, plays a crucial role in understanding and designing new materials. Its contributions are integral to many recent breakthroughs in materials science and engineering, and we look forward to exploring these connections during the course of the conference. With a range of sessions including plenary talks, highlight lectures, poster presentations, and social events, there will be ample opportunities for learning and networking. Whether attending in person or virtually, we encourage you to engage actively and contribute to shaping the future of materials science.
