Crystallography matters ... more!

The year 2014 was declared the International Year of Crystallography by the United Nations in order to raise awareness in the world at large about the importance of crystallography in the modern world. Through an incredible variety of activities worldwide, that objective has been brought to life for thousands of schoolchildren, university students and the general public. Many events have been sponsored by UNESCO and the International Union of Crystallography, supported by industrial and academic sponsors, and made real by a host of willing volunteers. They have ranged from Science Fairs for schoolchildren, to professional-level OpenLab workshops and training sessions, to international summit meetings to shape future policy. They have ignited a fire in the new generation, most especially in parts of the developing world where structural science is still an infant science.