I want to thank everyone who attended the 2022 Gordon Research
Conference and Gordon Research Seminar on Diffraction Methods in
Structural Biology, as well as all those who contributed to these great
gatherings in the past. It was an outstanding meeting if I do say so
myself. Not just because it had been so long without in-person
interaction, not just because we had zero covid cases (which I see as no
small feat of Mind over Virus), but because of this amazing community.
It is rare in this world to have such a strong spirit of collaboration,
camaraderie and openness in undertakings as high-impact as this.
Surmounting the barriers to atomic-detail imaging of biological systems
has never been more exciting and more relevant. I am proud to be a part
of it, and honored to have served as Chair.
It is therefore with heavy heart that I report to this community that I
was the last Chair of the Diffraction Methods GRC.
The GRC Conference Evaluation Committee
(https://www.grc.org/about/conference-evaluation-committee/) voted this
year to discontinue the Diffraction Methods GRC and GRS. This ends a
46-year tradition that I feel played a vital, and vibrant role in the
work of the people who answer questions on this BB. The reason given
was insufficient attendance. All other metrics, such as evaluation
surveys and demographics were very strong. I have tried to appeal, but
I'm told the vote was unanimous and final. I understand that like so
many conference organizing bodies the GRC is having to make tough
financial decisions. I must say I disagree with this one, but it was not
my decision to make.
Many of the past and elected Chairs have been gathering and discussing
how to replace the Diffraction Methods GRC/GRS going forward. Many great
ideas, advice and perspectives have been provided, but that is a select
group. I feel it is now time to open up this discussion to the broader
community of structural methods developers and practitioners. There are
some important questions to ask:
* How do we define this community?
Yes, many of us do cryoEM too, but is that one methods meeting?
or two?
* Does this community need a new diffraction methods meeting?
As in one meeting or zero?
* Should we merge with an existing meeting?
It would make logistics easier, but a typical GRC has 22 hours
of in-depth presentations over 5 days. The GRS is 7 hours over 2 days.
As Chair, I found that was not nearly enough.
* Where do you think structural methods are going?
I think I know, but I may be biased.
* Should the name change?
From 1976 to 2000, it was "Diffraction Methods in Molecular
Biology". The word "diffraction", BTW, comes from the Latin for
"shattering of rays", and originally used to describe the iridescence of
bird feathers. That's spectroscopy!
How about:
"Structural Methods for the Departing of Rays"
I'm sure there are many more questions, and better suggestions. I look
forward to enlightening discussions! GRCs have always been about
discussion, and I hope to keep that tradition alive in this community.
-James Holton
MAD Scientist
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