2024 Meeting Statistics & Policies

In 2024, the ACA welcomed over 600 attendees from around the world to the 74th Annual Meeting, held in Denver, Colorado, from July 7-12.

Venue

Conference Venue & Location
All conference activities, unless noted, took place at the Denver Marriott Tech Center.

Hotel Information:

DENVER MARRIOTT® TECH CENTER

4900 S. SYRACUSE STREET

DENVER, COLORADO, USA, 80237

Meeting Committee


Anna Gardberg	Samantha Powell	Stacey Smith	Sarah Bowman

Poster Chairs


S. Andres		L. Gallington

Transactions

ACA 2024 Transaction Symposium:

Structural Science: Sharing Excitement & Appreciation

Organizers:

Louise Dawe, Brandon Mercado, Christine Zardecki & Charles Bou-Nader

Description:

A fundamental challenge for specialists in any field is communicating the importance and intricacies of their work to those outside of it. The 2024 Transactions Symposium is designed to address two pivotal themes concerning the promotion and understanding of structural science. First, pedagogical approaches of teaching structural science, emphasizing the methodologies that resonate most effectively with learners will be explored. Second, strategies to captivate the interest of non-specialists, including funding agencies and the general public, will be considered. By reflecting on what makes experts passionate about their field and what they wish others understood about it, the symposium aims to drive actionable insights into bridging gaps and fostering a broader appreciation for structural science.

Awards

Yearly Awards	Margaret C. Etter Early Career Award: Benjamin Frandsen M.J. Buerger Award: Thomas Albrecht-Schoenzart Bertram Eugene Warren Diffraction Physics Award: John Greedan For more information on awards and the criteria to nominate a candidate please see our Awards page.
Etter Student Lecturer Award Winners	Abstract No.: 94 Nominating SIG: Best Title: Defining Grading Tools for Complex Small Molecules to Enable Assessment of Quality and Appropriate Reuse of Data Author: Aaron Horner Appearing In Session: 1.1.2 Provenance, Workflow & Responsibility for X-Rays, Neutrons and Electrons – Part 1 Abstract No.: 156 Nominating SIG: Industrial Title: Unveiling the Molecular Interplay of VPS34 Inhibition by Novel Drug Targets: A Promising Approach for Tailored Cancer Therapeutics Author: Wisdom Abiodun Appearing In Session: 2.1.3 Structural Biology in Pharma Part 1 Abstract No.: 229 Nominating SIG: BioMac Title: Novel Fragment Inhibitors of PYCR1 from Docking-Guided X-ray Crystallography Author: Kaylen Meeks Appearing In Session: 2.1.3 Structural Biology in Pharma/Biotech - Part 1 Abstract No.: 247 Nominating SIG: Small Mol Title: Discovering nonlinear optical crystals and predicting their THz spectra through data mining and DFT calculations Author: Sing Hang Ho Appearing In Session: 2.1.6 Mathematical, Theoretical & Computational Crystallography Abstract No.: 260 Nominating SIG: MicroED Title: Access and Experiments with MicroED at Yale University for Biomaterials Characterization Author: Charles Lomba Appearing In Session: 2.2.5 Using Microed at Your Institution: How Microed & Cryo-EM Can Coexist Abstract No.: 221 Nominating SIG: Materials Title: Single crystal diffuse scattering analysis of short-range order in garnet-type Li-ion conductor Li6.75La3Nb0.25Zr1.75O12 Author: Caleb Ramette Appearing In Session: 3.1.5 Structural Characterizations of Emerging Energy Materials Abstract No.: 231 Nominating SIG: Neutron Title: Compositional effects on the triple conduction behavior of Ba[CoxFe0.8-xZr0.1Y0.1]O3-δ(BCFZY) -Insights from neutron total scattering studies Author: Kennedy Agyekum Appearing In Session: 3.1.5 Structural Characterizations of Emerging Energy Materials Abstract No.: 117 Nominating SIG: YSIG Title: Automated serial (rotation) electron diffraction for high-throughput structure determination and phase analysis of complex polycrystalline samples Author: Paul Hager Appearing In Session: 3.1.6 Developments in Data Collection & Automation in MicroED Abstract No.: 152 Nominating SIG: CAD Title: TraG-edy to Triumph: How Challenges in Crystallisation Efforts of TraG Led to Success Author: Nicholas Bragagnolo Appearing In Session: 3.2.1 Flexibility, Dynamics & the Secret Lives of Proteins Abstract No.: 98 Nominating SIG: SAS Title: SAXS/SANS as a structural tool to study RNA:RNA complexes Author: Aldrex Munsayac Appearing In Session: 3.2.2 Structure of Nucleic Acids - Part 2: SAS/Hybrid Approaches Abstract No.: 128 Nominating SIG: Light Sources Title: Determining the Enzymatic Mechanism of DJ-1 Using a New Approach to Mix-and-Inject Synchrotron Serial Crystallography Author: Kara Zielinski Appearing In Session: 3.2.4 Serial Crystallography Abstract No.: 292 Nominating SIG: Powder Title: Investigating phase coexistence and local structure in MoTe2 using synchrotron XRD and pair distribution function Author: Sumit Khadka Appearing In Session: 4.1.2 Totally Total Scattering Abstract No.: 33 Nominating SIG: Service Title: Oxos, Diamond Cores, and Oxides: A Look at Co-O Author: Sophie Anferov Appearing In Session: 4.2.2 Cool Structures Abstract No.: 295 Nominating SIG: Fiber Title: Density of the extracellular matrix in pancreatic cancer solid tumors has consequences on high molecular weight drug delivery Author: Cody Rounds Appearing In Session: 4.2.5 Recent Advances in Fiber Diffraction Abstract No.: 321 Nominating SIG: CryoEM Title: Cryo-EM Structures of Group II Intron Ribonucleoprotein Complexes Author: Sarah Starcovic Appearing In Session: 3.1.2 Structure of Nucleic Acids I - CryoEM
Poster Prize Winners	Linus Pauling Poster Prize Poster Session: PS1-3 Author: Saira Montermoso Understanding the Molecular Mechanism of Redondovirus Rep in Rolling Circle Replication of the Redondoviral Genome Muttaiya Sundaralingam Pauling Poster Prize Poster Session: PS1-9 Author: Liliana Guerrero Unveiling the Dynamic World of STEP: Structural Analysis in Response to Temperature, Pressure, Ligand Binding, and Dehydration. Herman R. Branson Pauling Poster Prize Poster Session: PS1-14 Author: Jacquelyn Roberts Structural and functional analysis of the Legionella pneumophila Dot/Icm Type IV secretion system proteins Dis2 and Dis3 Louis Delbaere Pauling Poster Prize Poster Session: PS1-20 Author: Christina Rodriguez Structural Studies of an F-plasmid Protein TraW Linus Pauling Poster Prize Poster Session: PS1-21 Author: Ziqi An Expression, Purification, and Biophysical Characterization of Monkeypox Virus Protein I1 Linus Pauling Poster Prize Poster Session: PS1-30 Author: Suresh Kumar Cryo-EM reveals the structural and functional role of prothrombin recognition by type-I anti-prothrombin antibody in Antiphospholipid Syndrome. IUCr Pauling Poster Prize Poster Session: PS1-31 Author: Madeline M. Glennon Structural Elucidation of an RNA Triple Helix in Complex with a Small Molecule Crystal Growth and Design Poster Prize Poster Session: PS2-22 Author: Wisdom Abiodun Molecular Interplay of VPS34 Inhibition by Novel Drug Targets: A Promising Approach for Tailored Cancer Therapeutics Crystal Growth and Design Poster Prize Poster Session: PS2-25 Author: Blake Averett TELSAM-DARPin protein complexes may exhibit partial molecule exclusion when in complex with target proteins CrystEngComm Poster Prize Poster Session: PS2-3 Author: Nobuyuki Yamamoto Puzzling three-component disorder from unprecedented reaction Journal of Chemical Crystallography Poster Prize Poster Session: PS2-19 Author: Gabriella Ruiz Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED/ 3DED) for the Materials Scientist. Journal on Structural Dynamics Poster Prize Poster Session: PS2-13 Author: Cole Dolamore Determining the Mechanism of DJ-1 Using Mix-and-Inject Synchrotron Serial Crystallography MiTeGen-Society of Physics Students Poster Prize Poster Session: PS2-4 Author: Alihi Keliiliki Resolving polymer flipping in TELSAM-facilitated protein crystals using magneto crystallography Oxford Cryosystems Low Temperature Poster Prize Poster Session: PS2-28 Author: Kaylen Meeks Novel Fragment Inhibitors of PYCR1 from Docking-Guided X-ray Crystallography RCSB Protein Data Bank Poster Prize Poster Session: PS2-7 Author: Kyle Ludlow What is the best target protein density for TELSAM fusion crystallization? Taylor & Francis Biomolecular Crystallography Poster Prize Poster Session: PS2-12 Author: Daniel Tchon Towards the spatial resolution of photosystem II charge states from XFEL diffraction data
Press Releases	The ACA collected over 400 submitted abstracts and three were selected for press releases: TBA!

Workshops

		Attendees
	Workshop 1: Advanced Structure Refinement with Olex2 & NoSpherA2 Organizers: Michael Bodensteiner, Florian Kleemiss, Oleg V. Dolomanov and Ilia A. Guzei	29
	Workshop 2: Applications of Small Angle Scattering to Structural Biology: An Introduction Organizers: Kushol Gupta, Michal Hammel, Jesse Hopkins	24
	Workshop 3: Hands-on CryoEM Sample Preparation &Data Collection Workshop Using CryoEM Merit Badges Organizers: Ed Eng & Craig Yoshioka	42
	Workshop 4: Simple & Advanced Single Crystal X-Ray Structure Refinement Using ShelXle Organizers: Matthias Zeller & Christian B. Hübschle	21
	Workshop 5: Crystallographic & Cryo-EM Structure Solution with Phenix Organizers: Dorothee Liebschner	39

Statistics

ATTENDEES	In-Person Attendees	Abstracts	Oral	Posters
	607	432	319	113

Country	2024
Australia	0
Austria	0
Brazil	1
Canada	15
China	0
Czech Republic	1
France	1
Germany	6
India	0
Hungary	0
Japan	6
Korea, Republic of	2
Netherlands	3
Prefer Not to Disclose	175
Poland	0
Singapore	1
Spain	1
Sweden	4
Switzerland	5
United Kingdom	6
United States	352
	579

Ethnicity	2024
Did Not Disclose	22
Asian	125
Black or African Descent	15
Hispanic	30
Other	13
Prefer not to Disclose	27
White (Caucasian)	347
	579

Gender	2024
Male	352
Female	192
Non-Binary	3
Prefer Not to Disclose	10
Did Not Disclose	22
	579

Land Acknowledgment

As we plan to gather in the vibrant city of Denver, Colorado for the 74th Annual Conference of the American Crystallographic Association, we acknowledge that Denver is situated on the traditional territories of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Ute Nations. These indigenous peoples have lived on and cared for this land for generations, fostering a deep connection to its natural beauty and resources.

We recognize the historical and ongoing impact of colonization, forced removals, and systemic injustices that have disproportionately affected Native American communities. We also honor the resilience, strength, and contributions of indigenous peoples in the face of these challenges.

As we engage in meaningful discussions let us carry this acknowledgment with us. May it serve as a reminder of our collective responsibility to create a conference environment that is inclusive, respectful, and mindful of the diverse perspectives and experiences that enrich our professional community.

In the spirit of unity and understanding, let us commit to fostering a conference atmosphere that honors the land, its original caretakers, and the shared journey towards a more just and equitable future for all.

Conference Policy

The ACA recognizes the positive impact that a conference speaking opportunity has on an individual's track record and visibility. We also recognize that some sections of the scientific community are often under- represented in conference programs, and that this can affect diversity in the long-term. Our policies were developed to ensure quality and equality.

Speaker Invitation Policy

The program chairs will ensure the highest quality scientific program, with speakers that represent the broad diversity of our community. We aim to achieve a speaker and program chair balance that reflects the make-up of our community without bias with regard to gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, geography, disabilities, or national origin.

Reporting Policy

We will report statistics on the conference website on the geographic and gender balance of invited speakers, selected speakers, session chairs, and attendees.

Questions? [email protected]

			The ACA is a Regional Associate of the International Union of Crystallography

			US National Committee for Crystallography (USNC/Cr)

			Canadian National Committee for Crystallography

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