CCDC grants aim to inspire tomorrow’s structural chemistry pioneers

CCDC provides a global hub for data, software and knowledge serving materials and life sciences research and development and offers PhD sponsorship. Its Cambridge Structural Database of curated and enhanced organic and metal-organic structures includes 1 million experimental small molecule crystal structures accessed by researchers working internationally.

But while the work directly impacts advances in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, batteries, catalysts and others, the centre is concerned that there is little awareness of this work outside the immediate profession.

To counter crystallography and structural science’s lack of visibility, the CCDC announced it will provide new Engagement Grants for outreach work in order to boost understanding among the general public and in schools.

Grants can be employed for producing videos and social media series, to interest young people in STEM subjects and specific areas of study, provided outputs relate crystal structures, crystallography, or structural science. While children will provide much of the focus, grant applicants must be 18 or over.

“We know these grants will help others to share our love of structural science to a wider audience and will support our global community to be part of our mission to grow engagement in crystallography and inspire the next generation of structural scientists,” said Suzanna Ward, Head of Database and Community, CCDC.