Since mid-2013, when a Rigaku MiniFlex X-ray diffractometer was installed at the Department of Geo-resources and Geotechnical Engineering (GGE) at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC), the students in the department have been introduced to X-ray diffraction and crystallography. To increase their knowledge, the first IUCr-UNESCO OpenLab in Cambodia, in partnership with Rigaku, was held at the ITC in conjunction with IYCr2014 from July 7 to 11, 2014.

The subject of X-ray diffraction and crystallography is yet coming popular in Cambodia. Since ITC has just had X-ray diffractometer (MiniFlex II, Rigaku) in mid 2013, the above-mentioned subjects have been introducing to the students in Department of Geo-resources and Geotechnical Engineering (GGE), Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC). The first IUCr-UNESCO OpenLab in Cambodia was held at the ITC in conjunction with IYCr2014 from July 7 to 11, 2014. The OpenLab Cambodia was organized by GGE department in partnership with Rigaku. The workshop is about powder diffraction technique and applications and is making use of the Rigaku MiniFlex diffractometer installed at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia. The 22 participants were students in the GGE department (undergraduates and postgraduates), public sector (Ministry of Mine and Energy, Cambodia) and private sectors (mining company and cement industry). 

The Opening Ceremony on Monday July 7 was chaired by Dr Kim Ngun Bun (lecturer at ITC and local organizer of the event), and welcome speeches were given by Mr Phol Norith (Deputy Director of ITC), Mr Kazuyuki Inoue (Rigaku Corporation), Mr Ros Soveacha (UNESCO Cambodia) and Dr Michele Zema (IUCr, Project Manager for IYCr2014). The opening remarks session was followed by a talk by Dr Bun about research activities and perspectives in Cambodia and at the ITC in particular. Dr Zema then introduced the global IUCr-UNESCO OpenLab project and the worldwide activities taking place during IYCr. The afternoon was dedicated to the basics of symmetry and diffraction taught by Dr Zema. On the second and third days, Dr Yue Bing (Rigaku Corporation) introduced the topic of X-ray powder diffraction, including systems, methods and instrumentation. The last two days were dedicated to hands-on tutorials including sample preparation and data analysis. Students were able to collect powder diffraction patterns from their own samples and analyze the data. Various specimens such as rocks, ceramics and metals were used during this section.

Opening Ceremony	Michele Zema (IUCr) lecturing on symmetry and diffraction	Yue Bing (Rigaku) during hands-on tutorial on X-ray powder diffraction

At the end of each day of training, the participants were requested to complete a questionnaire. Certificates were awarded to the participants at the Closing Ceremony by Dr Zema. The participants were very enthusiastic about the OpenLab and this could promote the knowledge of crystallography in Cambodia.

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