Insider's Guide to the Meeting
There area so many reasons why students and young scientists benefit from attending the
ACA meeting. Make sure you don't miss out on any of them! Here are some tips to ensure
you get the most out of your experience.
Learn Something New
Every year cutting edge crystallographic skills and techniques are presented. Make sure you don't get left behind.
- Attend a workshop: All workshops are held on Saturday. You can learn about a specific software package or a technique while bringing your own samples and data.
- Attend talks and poster sessions: There are a 20 daily sessions at the meeting. Abstracts that are not selected for talks are presented as posters in one of three poster sessions (refreshments are usually provided). If you have indicated on your abstract submission form that you would like to be considered for a prize, you will be judged during your poster session.
- Expand your horizons: Be daring and attend talks or visit posters that are presenting information unfamiliar to you. Ask questions and use the meeting to enhance your knowledge beyond your own research and experience.
- Meet Vendors at the Exhibit Show: Take this opportunity to talk to the many vendors that provide the necessary hardware and software for crystallography. They are a resource that is often overlooked. This is a great way to learn more about equipment and techniques.
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Network by Building Professional Relationships
The meeting provides awesome venues to meet other scientists and to create professional networks. Don't miss out on these valuable opportunities:
- The Mentoring Dinner is an event where young scientists (mentees) have the opportunity to meet more experienced scientists (mentors) from both academic and industrial backgrounds. Mentors give advice and ideas to mentees over dinner and drinks. Every person at the ACA should attend this event because everyone is either a mentor or a mentee! Tickets can be purchased at the Registration Desk.
- The Young Scientist Mixer is one of the most popular social events at the meeting. Food and drinks are provided and professional relationship building is promoted. This is organized by the Young Scientist SIG and financed by the ACA and/or the occasional vendor. It is free to Students and Postdocs.
- The Exhibit Show can be a great asset to young scientists. Meet the vendors, get their business cards and use them as contacts for the future. Vendors want to help you have a good experience at the meeting because you are a potential customer, or will be in the future. Vendors sponsor many of the venues at the ACA meeting specifically to create these types of relationships. Some of the events are by invitation only, so you’ll need to visit the vendor’s booth to get tickets.
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Get More Involved
Involvement in a Special Interest Group (SIG) allows for participation in the management
and the direction of the ACA. It also provides special opportunities to work directly with
experienced crystallographers.
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Scientific Interest Groups (SIGs) exist to give members the opportunity to focus on specialty areas while remaining connected to the entire scope of crystallographic applications. Joining a SIG means finding individuals within the larger network who have common scientific goals, challenges and interests.
- Attend a SIG meeting: The individual SIGs each meet during the course of the week to evaluate their current year’s accomplishments, plan sessions for next year’s meeting and secure chairs for those sessions. Take this opportunity to meet some of the scientists who shape the future of the ACA. Some SIGs provide lunch at the SIG meeting, like the Biomacromolecules SIG. Participation in a SIG and running for an officer position is a great way to boost your professional experience and looks great on your CV.
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