Inaugural Caribbean Crystallography School

Overview: The Caribbean Regional X-ray Science Toward Advancement Laboratory (crXstal) was established in October 2024 in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology at The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, as a regional hub dedicated to capacity building in X-ray crystallography through education and research. Its primary objectives are: 1) to teach X-ray crystallography through short courses, training schools and outreach activities aimed at popularizing the technique especially among youth; 2) to facilitate cutting-edge research that address regional challenges and position the Caribbean as a global leader in innovation and 3) crXstal is presently equipped with a Bruker D8 Quest Eco single-crystal diffractometer and an Oxford Diffraction cryostat.

Topics to be covered: Symmetry in crystals. Lattices, unit cells, point groups and space groups. Diffraction of X-rays by crystals. Bragg’s Law. The reciprocal lattice and the Ewald Sphere. Systematic absences, structure factors and electron densities. Use of the International Tables for Crystallography Vol. A. Crystal growth techniques. Crystal selection and mounting. Data collection and reduction. Structure solution and refinement. Structural analysis and reporting – molecular graphics and the CIF file. Use of various software packages for structure solution, refinement and display. Structure validation and publication. The Cambridge Structural Database. Introduction to crystallography using synchrotron radiation. Examples of applications of single crystal X-ray diffraction. The programme will include hands-on sessions on the Bruker D8 ECO Quest so students will have the opportunity to collect their own data and solve the structures.

Target Audience: Postgraduate students and researchers/ faculty members from any university, and Industry persons in a STEM discipline. 

Pre-course Requirement: A voluntary, online two-day pre-course will be held one week before the start of the school with the aim of levelling the background. It will cover basic principles of symmetry and linear algebra with exercises.

Modality: Face-to-Face

Cost: USD 700 (excludes accommodation, airfare, and local travel to and from airport)

Lecturers:

•  Andrea Araya-Sibaja, LANOTEC, Costa Rica (F)
•  Christopher Cahill, George Washington University, USA (M)
•  Javier Alcides Ellena, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil (M)
•  Ilaria Gimondi, CCDC, UK (F)
•  Lucia Maini, University of Bologna, Italy (F)
•  Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot, University of the West Indies (F)
•  Leopoldo Suescun, University of Montevideo, Uruguay (M)
•  Serena C. Tarantino, University of Pavia, Italy (F)
•  Suzanna Ward, CCDC, UK (F)
•  Michele Zema, University of Bari, Italy (M)
•  Application scientist, Bruker AXS, USA, to be nominated

Tutors/Lab Assistants:

•  Jermaine Smith (M), PhD candidate, The UWI, Mona, Jamaica
•  Dr. Zeyar Min (M), Lecturer, UTech, Kingston, Jamaica.

International Scientific Committee:

• Chair: Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot (F, Jamaica)
• Co-Chair: Michele Zema (M, Italy)
• Christopher Cahill (M, USA)
• Javier Alcides Ellena (M, Brazil)
• Lucia Maini (F, Italy)
• Suzanna Ward (F, UK)

Organizing Committee:

• Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot (F, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, Chair)
• Tanya Kerr (F)
• Mark Lawrence (M)
• Terry-Ann Collins Fray (F, administrator)
• Richard Taylor (M, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago)
• Zeyar Min (M, University of Technology, Jamaica)
• Avril Williams (F, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados).

Facilitators and Partners:

• Caribbean Regional X-ray Science Toward Advancement Laboratory (crXstal) School, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of the West Indies, Mona;
• Lightsources for Africa, the America, Asia, Middle East and the Pacific (LAAAMP)
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - Main Sponsor
• The University of Bologna Global South Program
• Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC)
• Bruker AXS
• Italian Crystallography School (AIC). Please visit the AIC website to explore available grants.
  
• International Science Council
  

Endorsements:

• The Latin American Crystallography Association
• IUCr Commission On Structural Chemistry
• George Washington University for their Generous Support/Endorsement of the School.

Qualification: Participants will be awarded 'Certificate of Participation' upon successful completion.

Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot - marvadeen.singhwilmot@uwimona.edu.jm

REGISTER