Abstract
Small-angle scattering emerged as a tool for studying noncrystalline structures from early observations around 1930 that there was a relationship between the extent of the scattering and the size of the scattering object. André Guinier, a leading figure in the development of the field, noted in his summary findings from the first Conference on Small Angle Scattering in 1958 that the technique would be of value to study 'submicroscopical inhomogeneities' and further provided a means of 'observation [that had] in the past restricted the field of application of the X-ray method.' In 1965 the first of what became a highly successful series of Small-Angle Scattering (SAS) meetings held approximately every three years took place in Syracuse, NY, USA, and many of these ongoing meetings published their proceedings and highlights in the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) Journal of Applied Crystallography. Since the early 2000s, the relationship between the international SAS community represented at the triennial SAS meetings and the IUCr has been strengthened and deepened through formal cooperation and collaboration in a number of mutually beneficial activities that have supported the growth and health of the field and the IUCr.
Highlights
Small-angle scattering emerged as a tool for studying noncrystalline structures from early observations around 1930 that there was a relationship between the extent of the scattering and the size of the scattering object
Andre Guinier, a leading figure in the development of the field, noted in his summary findings from the first Conference on Small Angle Scattering in 1958 that the technique would be of value to study ‘submicroscopical inhomogeneities’ and further provided a means of ‘observation [that had] in the past restricted the field of application of the X-ray method.’
It was possible to work through the issues for both meetings with transparency and good will, which led to SAS2021 becoming SAS2022 with the 25th International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) Congress moving to 2021 and the prospect of two successful meetings as the pandemic hopefully fades
Summary
The first published observations of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) were in the Indian Journal of Physics by Panchapakesa Krishnamurti, whose series of papers from 1928 to 1930 culminated in a publication detailing the relationship between particle size and molecular weights and the extent of small-angle scattering (SAS) (Krishnamurti, 1930). The 1958 conference could be considered the zeroth meeting for what would become the very successful series of meetings that would bring together the international SAS community across all fields to advance and grow SAS applications It was just seven years on, in 1965, that what is regarded as the first of this series was held in Syracuse, New. York, USA. The Guinier Prize would be awarded for ‘lifetime achievement, a major breakthrough, or an outstanding contribution to the field of small angle scattering.’ As part of these negotiations, and in response to IUCr concerns to avoid scheduling clashes, the triennial SAS conference was moved out of the Congress years: the four-year break between the 2002 conference in Venice, Italy, and the 2006 conference in Kyoto, Japan (Table 1). Successive CSAS Chairs have sought to solidify the connections between the IUCr and the triennial SAS meetings, in addition to supporting other independent SAS groups like canSAS (Collective Action for Nomadic Small Angle Scatterers; an ongoing activity to provide the small-angle scattering user community with shared tools and information http://www.cansas.org/) that have grown spontaneously from the SAS conference community
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