Dear Members of the U.S. Crystallography Community,
We are at a pivotal moment for U.S. structural science. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has announced that, effective January 1, 2026, it will withdraw from the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) and dissolve the U.S. National Committee for Crystallography (USNC/Cr). This action ends a long tradition of national representation and threatens the continuity of U.S. engagement with the global crystallography community.
To ensure that the United States continues to have a voice in the IUCr and to advance the interests of U.S. crystallographers, the American Union of Crystallography (AUC) has been established as a new, independent, non-profit entity. The AUC’s mission is to serve as the national voice for crystallographers, advocate for robust research support, strengthen education, promote international engagement, and steward resources for the benefit of our field.
We need your help. The U.S. National Division (USND) of the ACA is executing a drive to get signatures from the US crystallography community requesting that the IUCr admit the AUC as the new U.S. adhering body. Broad community support is vital to ensure a smooth transition of representation and the stewardship of legacy funds for U.S. crystallographic programs, training, and international participation.
What you can do:
- Help ensure the future of U.S. crystallography by inviting your colleagues to join this important effort. The petition is open to anyone in the United States—ACA membership is not required—so please feel free to share the link (https://acas.memberclicks.net/auc) widely and encourage others to add their names.
With your engagement, the AUC can become the transparent, forward-looking, and inclusive organization our community needs. Thank you for your dedication to crystallographic science and for supporting this important transition.
With appreciation,
Joe Ferrara, AUC President
Lisa Keefe, AUC Secretary
Ilia Guzei, AUC Treasurer
