The USAS-2014 Workshop will be held at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (on-site) on June 5 (afternoon session) and June 6 (full-day session). The workshop will be organized as a satellite meeting to the ACNS 2014 Conference.

USAS-2014 will mainly be focused toward user community updates and developments; therefore, the workshop program will highlight the latest interesting USANS/SANS and USAXS structural studies of condensed materials. The latest achievements in the USANS/USAXS instrumentation and sample environment techniques for USAS investigations will also be discussed. In addition, new interesting proposals for USANS/SANS studies and important scientific problems, which can be solved with contemporary USANS/SANS and USAXS techniques, will be discussed at a special session of USAS-2014.

This school will provide a practical users' guide to planning and conducting scattering measurements at SSRL beam lines, and will cover important techniques including small angle scattering, thin-film scattering, powder diffraction, structure refinement and surface x-ray scattering. The school will address topics that are not commonly included in text books or class lectures, and typically obtained only through on-the-experiment training. .

The fourth Australasian Course in Macromolecular Crystallisation will be held in Parkville, Victoria (Melbourne) between the 9th and 13th of December, 2013. Â This course is an intensive, hands-on practical course that combines lectures on all aspects of macromolecular crystallisation, from sample preparation to cryo-protection and harvesting of crystals. One day will be spent at the MX and SAX beamlines of the Australian Synchrotron.Â

Invited International lecturers: Jim Pflugrath (Rigaku Americas), Terese Bergfors (Uppsala University), Martin Caffrey (Trinity College, Dublin), James Holton (LBL, ALS) and Rob Thorne (Cornell University) as well as stars from Australia.

The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP, Trieste, Italy), in cooperation with iThemba Labs - National Research Foundation (SA) Cape Town Campus, Stellenbosch, South Africa is organizing an Advanced School on Synchrotron Radiation Techniques and Nanotechnology: A Synergic Approach to Life Sciences and Medicine to be held in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, South Africa.Â

In the post-genomic era the emphasis has shifted from genes to proteins and to the understanding of their structure and biological function. The rapid development of nano-sciences has made available a new range of tools and approaches that have revolutionized biological and medical research, by allowing scientist to manipulate nano-particles and macromolecular objects and to monitor the behaviour of single molecules. Not only is this having a great impact on basic biological research, but its applications have become a driving and innovative force in the modern economic and industrial framework, particularly for health and biotechnology.

Topics will include:

• Macromolecular crystallography,
• Single particle electron microscopy,
• Small angle X-ray scattering,
• Computational biology,
• Nano-biophysics,
• High resolution atomic force microscopy,
• Nano-mechanics and tissue engineering.Â

The aim of the school is to introduce young researchers to the latest developments in the field of structural biology, nano-biophysics and nano-medicine and to their revolutionary impact on biotechnology, pharmacology and early diagnostics of widespread diseases. Potential applications range from low-cost diagnostic tools and therapeutics for neglected diseases (such as malaria, Dengue, AIDS) to the development of local biotechnology industry. A few practical sessions will provide the students with some hands-on experience in some of the subjects covered by the lectures.Â

The School and Workshop aim to celebrate the 100 years of X-Ray Diffraction and to provide a forum for exchange of knowledge in the fields of crystallography in order to get the latest developments in structure determination of biological and non-biological molecules. During this occasion, the history and developments of Crystallography in Egypt and North Africa will be reviewed. Single crystal and powder techniques will be considered using conventional Sealed Tube and non-conventional Synchrotron Radiation. Advanced applications of different techniques such as Small Angle Scattering as well as Raman and IR spectroscopy in characterizations of materials will be also covered. Hand-on computer training on the latest developed programs in the field will be also available.

Brief Description:

The last decade has seen an exponential growth in the results obtained by macromolecular crystallography, both in terms of number of structures and their complexity. This growth is having a significant impact on molecular and cellular biology, as more and more macromolecular structures have been instrumental in elucidating biological functions.Â

The objective of this introductory workshop is to expose the participants to the methodologies used to solve macromolecular structures, using single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Structural biology is an interdisciplinary research area, requiring expertises from both the life sciences and the physical sciences: the school aims to bridge the gap between physics and biology by providing a comprehensive overview of the field, starting from the gene to obtain the atomic structure. A short overview of other structural biology techniques will also be presented. The educational program will be based both on lectures and practical sessions.Â

The school is part of a joint initiative between Elettra, IAEA and SESAME, the Middle East synchrotron radiation facility in Jordan.

Main Topics:

• Bioinformatics analysis to identify structural targets and optimise constructs design
• Molecular biology and cloning techniques
• Protein expression and purification
• Crystallisation
• Data collection & reduction
• Structure determination
• Model building, refinement and model validation
• Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS)
• An overview of other structural biology techniques

7th International Conference on Inelastic X-ray Scattering

11-14 October 2010, World Trade Center, Grenoble

Programme

The IXS2010 conference will bring together researchers from all over the world working in the field of inelastic X-ray scattering. It is intended to provide a forum for the presentation of novel results, discussion on present and future trends and for an intense exchange between participants utilising the various IXS techniques for a wide variety of different applications.
The conference will cover electronic resonant and non-resonant scattering (in the soft- and hard X-ray regime), emission spectroscopy, meV-resolved atomic dynamics, nuclear inelastic scattering, Compton scattering, and thermal diffuse scattering.
Presentations will consist of invited and contributed talks and two poster sessions. The schedule will allow ample time for informal discussions.

International Conference on Neutron and X-Ray Scattering (ICNX 2009)

In view ofthe success of previous neutron and x-ray scattering conference in this region (ICNX 2007, Serpong and Bandung, Indonesia), it has been decided to reconvene the International Conference on Neutron and X-Ray Scattering, in 2009. The conference will take place from June 29, 30 and july 1, 2009 at Putra World Trade Centrre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Â

Scattering technique using neutron and x-ray is a powerful method to probe and study the structures and dynamics of materials ranging from the mechanics of protein folding and its effect in physiology to the ordering of atomic magnets of solid materials of industrial interest. Both neutron and x-ray can be exploited using a variety of measurement techniques to provide information not otherwise available.Â

The availability of new optical system that can micro-focus neutron provides opportunity to explore new characterization technique and full-utilization of small research reactor that scattered throughout the world. The emergences of new synchrotrons allow more scientists to use high-intensity x-ray for their research. In addition, new modeling approach and software development permit valuable connection between theoretical and experimental analysis. Â Characterization with neutron and x-ray scattering has made significant contribution to the large research activities in engineering, materials development, polymer dynamics, chemical technology, biological studies, and physics, and will continue to do so.Â

The objective of this conference is to bring together scientists who develop neutron and x-ray scattering instruments, perform characterization experiments, synthesized materials and computation. Discussion will be focused on recent results and ideas in these areas. The conference will consist of lectures and poster on new and emerging areas in scattering technique

An Acknowledgment

The organizing Committee of SAS2006 Kyoto is honored to have hosted the thirteenth International Conference of Small-angle Scattering in Japan. It goes without saying that the key to success of this conference lies with you, the participants, over five hundred of whom came from over 35 countries, to report extremely high quality SAS based research.Â

We, the organizers, very much enjoyed hearing the theme of “Small Angle Scattering” being thundered across the conference rooms in our Kyoto International Conference Hall, like beautiful, exciting reverberations from the roll of a Japanese “Wadaiko” drum at the Banquet. We are especially pleased to have had the opportunity to bring speakers and participants of contrasting fields from the physical sciences, materials sciences, and biological sciences, together in the same conference rooms to discuss their work, with SAS as the important, unifying key word. Hopefully we share a common impression with you, that the SAS field is gaining greater significance in science and technology and in its contributions to the culture of this century.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the international advisory board members, the institutional sponsors, and the industrial sponsors for helping us to organize this conference. We hope you have enjoyed your stay with us and wish you a safe journey home. We hope to see you again at the SAS2009 Oxford.Â

Chair of Organizing Committee, Takeji Hashimoto

IXS2007

6th International Conference on Inelastic X-ray Scattering

Scope

IXS2007 will cover a wide range of topics in the field of inelastic x-ray scattering, including electronic resonant and non-resonant scattering, meV-resolved atomic dynamics, nuclear resonant methods, and Compton scattering. Theoretical calculations will also be addressed. The conference will deepen our understanding of inelastic x-ray scattering, a set of techniques that have demonstrated their great potential to contribute to condensed matter physics, geophysics, chemistry and bio-physics.
The conference is intended to provide a forum for presenting new research and exchanging ideas about scientific applications and technical developments. It will promote scientific collaboration combining the different techniques. Presentations will consist of plenary, invited, and contributed talks, and a poster session, all scheduled so as to provide ample time for discussion.

Venue

The conference venue is the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center on Awaji Island. It is located 30 minutes from Kobe and 90 minutes from Kansai International Airport (KIX) by bus, via Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Organization

• Chair : H. Kawata (PF/KEK)
• Host : JASRI/SPring-8, JAEA/SPring-8, RIKEN/SPring-8, PF/KEK

OBJECTIVE

• To encourage young scientists and researchers in Indonesia especially from out of Java to have a basic knowledge on neutron and X-ray scattering in materials science and biology research.
• To provide collaboration opportunities among research and development institutions, universities, and industries in the field of materials science and biology at national, regional as well as in international level.
• To increase the quality of research and development in materials science and biology especially in advanced materials, catalyst, biotechnology and molecular biology, medicine and medical science, pharmaceutical, polymers, colloids and others in Indonesia as well as regional countries.
• To build strong user groups of neutron and X-ray scattering from the local and regional scientists and researchers.
• To promote and then to establish neutron scattering facility in Serpong as a center of excellent in supporting materials science and biology research in national, regional as well as in international level

SCOPE

The conference will be discussing and covering various topics in the field of materials science and engineering, metallurgy, solid state chemistry and physics, polymers, soft condensed matter, biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, medical science, as well as pharmacy in association with neutron and X-ray scattering techniques. It also widely covers other topics such as instrument development and computer modeling or simulation in crystal and macromolecule structures for scientific and industrial applications.

The AONSA Neutron Schools provide training for newcomers to neutron scattering across the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, materials science and more. As well as lectures, they include practical sessions with hands-on experiments and data analysis. All neutron techniques are generally covered, notably powder diffraction, single-crystal diffraction, strain scanning, small-angle scattering, reflectometry, inelastic and quasielastic scattering.

About the practical course

The EMBO Practical Course is aimed at young scientists working in the field of structural biology including: biochemists, biophysicists, and those specializing in macromolecular crystallography (MX), electron microscopy (EM), NMR or bioinformatics. Small angle scattering (SAS) of X-rays and neutrons (SAXS/SANS) experiences a renaissance in structural biology allowing one to study native particles and complexes and to monitor structural changes in response to variations in external conditions (temperature, pH, salinity, ligands).

Novel data analysis methods and a broader accessibility to high brilliance instruments on large scale facilities significantly enhanced resolution and reliability of structural models provided by SAS. Emerging automation of the experiment, data processing and interpretation made solution SAS a streamline tool for large scale structural studies in molecular biology. The method provides low resolution macromolecular shapes ab initio and is readily combined with other structural, biochemical and computational techniques in hybrid approaches. The extremely broad range of molecular sizes accessible by SAS, from kDa to GDa, allows one to monitor the interactions in hierarchical systems at different levels of structural organization. The participants are encouraged to bring their own samples for biophysical characterization (e.g. using light scattering, size exclusion chromatography and thermoflour experiments). They may also bring the SAXS or SANS data collected on other facilities to be analysed during the Course.

Scope

Envisaged Sessions:

• Soft Matter
• Magnetism
• Tomography
• Biomaterials
• Hybrid materials
• Instruments & techniques
• Interfaces
• Dynamics
• Dimensional metrology

Envisaged Satellites:

• GISAS
• Time resolved SAS
• Data formats and software and more

SAS School

HZB will organize a school on small-angle scattering techniques (5 days).This school for young less experienced scientists will offer "hands-on" experiments and short data evaluation on our scattering instruments.

Strategic pipeline planning: from sample preparation to 3D structure determination with bio SAXS and other biophysical techniques

The location will be at the National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF).
The course will provide training on creating a roadmap towards determining the 3D structure of a macromolecular target including troubleshooting and rational decision-making. Emphasis will be given on Bio SAXS as a method of choice to characterize the structure of a single protein and protein complexes in solution coupled with X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and electron microscopy (EM). An overview of mainstream methods will also be presented and attention will be drawn to techniques developed the last years like X-ray imaging. In addition, the participants will have a chance to get informed about the options they have for career development. Overall, the course will enable the attendees to adopt a broader way of thinking and get acquainted with state-of-the-art approaches currently employed in structural biology. This will increase researchers' awareness on the facilities and services provided and capitalize on the investment that has already been made by Europe with the aim to promote innovative research.
Target Group & Selection process: The course targets mainly PhD students and post-doctoral scientists who are currently working in the structural biology field and have already some experience in working with macromolecules. Experienced researchers will also be considered but priority will be given to younger scientists. A total of 25 participants will be accepted in the course. The applicants will be expected to send a CV (max. 2 pages), a motivation letter (max. 1 page) explaining why they wish to participate and what they expect from the course and a reference letter. The Biostruct-X and local organizers will be responsible for the selection process to ensure that equivalent criteria will be applied.