Small angle scattering sig Report 2006

July 2006

In 2006 the SIG sponsored one workshop and six sessions.  The workshop and one of the sessions were focused on the technique of grazing incidence small angle for the study of large correlations in surfaces and interfaces.

Two other sessions were focused on small angle of biological materials, which is an area in which we feel we can contribute uniquely to the large protein crystallography memebership of the ACA.  Two of the sessions were co-sponsored with other interest groups.  Three sessions were oriented towards materials science, including a session on polymer science and technology.  Our sponsored sessions and workshops for 2006 reflect a developing thrust in our SIG to focus on applications in biology and materials science, and to cooperate in joint sessions by seeking complementarity with the rest of the ACA membership, while still providing a forum for the discussion of pure technique topics.  We have seen tremendous growth in the last few years in talk attendance and SIG participation by this approach.  We have five sessions and one workshop planned for 2007.  The sessions will cover topics in nano and bio, surfaces and interfaces, anisotropic scattering by the application of external fields, and complementary techniques.  The workshop will focus on anomalous scattering and imaging.  A Member at Large, A. Sandy (2007,) and a Chair, P. Thiyagarajan (2008,) were chosen according to concensus and will be voted on later in the year by the full membership.  We wish to thank Volker Urban (Chair 2006) and Pete Jemian (Member at Large 2005/6) for their inavaluable efforts.