The American Crystallographic Association proudly announces the Class of 2025 ACA Fellows—an exceptional group of scientists whose groundbreaking research, impactful teaching, and dedicated service have shaped the field of crystallography and structural science in profound ways. This year’s honorees represent a remarkable spectrum of contributions, from advancing foundational methods and developing revolutionary technologies to championing education, mentoring, and equity across the global scientific community.

Please join us in congratulating:

The ACA is proud to celebrate a major milestone in the career of Dr. James Kaduk, who has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)—one of the highest distinctions in the scientific community.

Jim’s impact on crystallography, particularly in the field of powder diffraction, is well known to our members. But beyond his scientific achievements, Jim has been a pillar of the ACA for years—a generous colleague, dedicated mentor, and tireless advocate for crystallographic education and outreach.

Spring is coming soon! Every year, on the 1st of April, the ACA collects nominations for its Fellows program. When I was elected a 2021 ACA Fellow, to be honest, I hadn’t put much thought into why professional organizations bother to make such distinctions. Certainly, being elected a Fellow is an honor and welcome recognition for any individual, but why do we, the ACA, The Structural Science Society, promote this type of recognition?

The professional world abounds with awards and honors designed to highlight specific scientific achievements, but the Fellows program is different. ACA Fellows are characterized as "scientific ambassadors" serving to advance the much broader goals of "scientific education, research, knowledge, interaction, and collaboration." Back when I was a student, my first inkling that science was more than just a single person "making discoveries" came when I started to realize that I needed collaborators. It was years before I fully appreciated all the elements that are required for science to advance and I'm still learning. Science is far more collaborative than I expected: experts with complementary skills must connect and build mutually beneficial relationships. New techniques need to be popularized and made accessible. Complex discoveries need to be communicated clearly and compellingly to engage the public and persuade policymakers of the value of long-term investments in science and education, despite their difficult-to-measure impact. Young scientists need opportunities to participate in and become part of a community ... and to understand the value of doing so.