ACA Communications Committee Candidate 2021: Veronica Carta 

Indiana University, Department of Chemistry.

Research Crystallographer with the rank of Assistant Scientist at the Indiana University Molecular Structure Center (IUMSC), Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.

Education

PhD in Inorganic Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (2018). MSc and BSc in Chemistry, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Professional Activities

Member of the American Crystallography Association (2018-present). Referee for Acta Crystallographica (IUCr) and Journal of Chemical Crystallography (Springer).

Research Interest

Small molecule X-ray diffraction analysis, powder x-ray diffraction, polymorphism, weak non-covalent interactions.

Statement

It is an honor to receive a nomination to serve on the ACA’s Communication Committee. Crystallography has been key to my research during my doctoral degree in supramolecular chemistry. The mentorship I received from members of the crystallographic community contributed to my education in structural chemistry and to my decision to undertake a career in small molecule service crystallography. I am thankful to the ACA for creating a community that promotes research, education, and professional development in crystallography, as well as the opportunity to create connections among scientists, and mentoring relationships.

Science communication and outreach are becoming more and more crucial in our society, as they play a key role in dismantling misconceptions and misinformation. Without a science background, it can be challenging to interpret data presented by the media, to discern objective facts from non-substantiated statements, and to recognize misleading news and conspiracy theories. A scientific approach helps people navigating the myriad of information they are exposed to on the Web, on social media, and in their everyday life. Science communication and outreach also contribute to making science more inclusive, encouraging more people of different backgrounds to pursue higher education or a career in STEM and improving science literacy within the general public.

As a member of the Communication Committee I would be enthusiastic about engaging in outreach activities and promoting them through our social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram). Social media platforms are a resource that the ACA can use to promote initiatives and make announcements, thereby facilitating communication to both ACA members and the public and increasing public knowledge about the ACA and structural science.