Using Knowledge Of Crystallography

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31001, 5 March 1966, Page 20

Using Knowledge Of Crystallography

The Australian conference of crystallographers this week discussed ways of giving other scientists maximum advantage of their findings.

Dr. B. R. Penfold, reader in chemistry at the University of Canterbury and a specialist in this work, said on his return that crystallography was an exceedingly powerful tool because it provided such detailed and precise information on the structure of matter on the atomic scale.

The conference agreed that theoretical chemists, biochemists, and many other scientists could make much more use of available information and techniques. Students Present

Dr Penfold, who was invited to the conference to give a paper, said the sidelight which interested him most was the attendance of about 50 research students in a conference of about 100. Two sessions were devoted to reports of students’ work.

“This gave the students tremendous encouragement and, more importantly, it put their work in the perspective of the whole field of crystallography,” said Dr. Penfold. “We don’t maybe we can’t do this year; but the inclusion of some students impressed me mightily,” said Dr. Penfold. The conference was held at the Australian Atomic Energy Establishment at Lucas Heights which, in itself, was an Interesting experience for delegates. Dr. Penfold said. International Agency Further interest arose from the conference overlapping a regional conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency considered uses of nuclear energy in developing countries. Dr. Penfold said atomic power seemed the most likely use of this energy but this conference was chiefly concerned with the training of workers and research scientists to be ready when such development was feasible.