Award Descriptions

Elizabeth A. Wood Science Writing Award:

The award is named in honor of Elizabeth A. Wood, President of the ACA in 1957, and author of science books for lay readers. Persons who have written books or articles that bring science to the attention of a wider audience are eligible. Successful nominees need not be crystallographers or scientists and 'writing' could include artistic efforts, museum displays, etc. Nominations should include the titles of books, copies of articles, or other documentation and should be submitted to the ACA office by October 1. Selection of the winner will be made by ACA Council and presented at the Annual Meeting. A gift of glassware, $1,500 cash and up to $1,500 travel expenses to attend the Annual Meeting to accept the award and complimentary banquet ticket. Awarded every three years. Established in 1997. 

Kenneth N. Trueblood Award:

Call for Nominations: Fall 2017
Submission Deadline: April 1, 2018
Winner Announced: Summer 2018 RefleXions
Award Presentation: 2019 Kentucky Meeting

To recognize exceptional achievement in computational or chemical crystallography. The award is established in memory of Professor Kenneth N. Trueblood, UCLA 1949-1998, who was a major force in the early use of computers and the development of crystallographic computer programs. He applied these programs to the examination of chemical and molecular details of many structures at the frontiers of research. His contribution to the famous work on vitamin B12 is one example. Professor Trueblood was a leader in the development of techniques for analysis of anisotropic motion and was also a superb teacher and a lucid author. Established in 2001, the award will be given every three years and consist of an honorarium of $1,500 and up to $1,500 in travel expenses to accept the award.

Charles E. Supper Instrumentation Award:

Next Award:     At the discretion of Council.

To recognize scientists who have made exceptional contributions to crystallographic instrumentation. Charles Supper emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1925, bringing an ability to fabricate almost anything mechanical. While at M.I.T. during the late 1930s, he collaborated with Martin Buerger in the development of the precession camera. This instrument was to become the most significant single-crystal camera of the second half of the century. By 1941, he recognized the need for a company to manufacture and supply high quality, easy-to-use, reasonably-priced instruments for the X-ray crystallographer and he founded the Charles Supper Company. Mr. Supper’s innovative designs and methods led to the commercial availability of the Buerger precession cameras, the Weissenberg camera, Debye-Scherrer powder cameras, goniometer heads, devices to fabricate crystal and protein models, film measuring instruments and other useful diffraction accessories. In the mid 1960s, the firm also became a major distributor for various crystallographic products created by others. The Supper Award is given periodically and consists of an honorarium to present a lecture at the Annual ACA Meeting. The Charles Supper fund was established by his son, Lee, in appreciation to the community of X-ray diffraction scientists for their continued support throughout the years.

David G. Rognlie Award:

Call for Nominations: Fall 2018
Submission Deadline: April 1, 2019
Winner Announced: Summer 2019 RefleXions
Award Presentation: 2020 San Diego Meeting

David (Dave) Rognlie was a dedicated and much loved member of the crystallographic community, interacting over many years with a large number of scientists through his activities as owner of Blake Industries which sold diffractometer equipment including Huber equipment. In 2014 he sadly passed away and funds have been donated to establish a triennial ACA award in his memory.

The award is intended to embody Dave’s values and personality: His generosity of spirit, optimism, selflessness and unstinting desire to help others to succeed in their endeavors. Dave played a particular role in the x-ray synchrotron community, but had broad and wide-ranging interests in the science and the people doing it across all spectra. The award will be for any meritorious discovery or advance in structural science by someone at any stage of their career. However, it is not intended to be a “lifetime achievement award” but for a particular discovery or development.

The Award will recognize an exceptional discovery or technical development of particularly high impact in any area of structural science, to be awarded at any stage of a scientist’s career without prejudice based on age, gender, ethnicity or race. Awarded every third year. May be given to more than one person but winner(s) will receive an honorarium of $3000 and up to $1500 expenses to attend the ACA meeting to present a lecture covering the discovery or development that led to their selection.

Margaret C. Etter Early Career Award:

Call for Nominations: Fall 2018
Submission Deadline: April 1, 2019
Winner Announced: Summer 2019 RefleXions
Award Presentation: 2020 San Diego Meeting

To recognize outstanding achievement and exceptional potential in crystallographic research demonstrated by a scientist at an early stage of their independent career. The award is established to honor the memory of Professor Margaret C. Etter (1943-1992), who was a major contributor to the field of organic solid-state chemistry. Her work particularly emphasized the use of hydrogen bonds and co-crystals. In addition to a large body of experimental work she was the major force in devising a set of rules known as graph sets to describe hydrogen bonds in a way that revealed similarities between structures without being tied up in the crystallographic details. Her experience teaching at an undergraduate institution and in working in both an industrial and academic setting gave her an unusually broad perspective from which to mentor students and to support and encourage colleagues. She had a love for people, for science, and especially for people who do science, that we honor. Established in 2002 as an annual award, it consists of a monetary award of $1,000 and plaque. The winner will present a lecture at the American Crystallographic Association Annual Meeting.

Scientists involved in crystallographic research in the broadest sense will be eligible for the award. At the time of the closing date for nominations, nominees must be no more than 12 years beyond the awarding of their Ph.D. degree, not including career breaks, and must have begun their first independent (not postdoctoral) position within the past 10 years. Nominees employed in tenure-track academic positions must not yet have received tenure. Nominations must include as a minimum a nomination letter clearly indicating the accomplishments of the individual since beginning their independent career and assessing the future potential of the nominee. Additional supporting letters and a c.v. for the nominee may be provided but are not requirements. Self-nominations are permitted. Nominees may be employed in regular academic positions, as service crystallographers, in industrial positions or in government laboratory positions.

Public Service Award:

To recognize a non-crystallographer for contributions to science policy, to science funding, or to communication of crystallography to the general public. Awarded on an irregular basis at the discretion of the ACA Council. 

  

Service Awards:

To recognize and honor the dedicated efforts of ACA members who voluntary work behind the scenes on the business of the organization. Volunteer contributions which would qualify a person this award include: outstanding performance on any of our Committees, Scientific Interest Group, any contributions of exceptional value to our members. Excluded as qualifying contributions are those performed while in highly visible positions within the ACA - Program and Local Chairs for annual meetings, and members of the ACA Council. The award consists of a certificate and a small gift.