Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced a global partnership
with the International
Union of Crystallography (IUCr) to support the International Year of
Crystallography 2014, a 12-month program co-organized by the IUCr and
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The program includes international school visits, workshops,
technology-sharing and a photo competition.
Agilent develops and manufactures sophisticated x-ray
crystallography instruments and technology used in areas such as
biology, chemistry, materials science and geology. Crystallography, or
the study of crystalized matter, is the study of the structure of
materials at the atomic or molecular level. By using intense X-ray
diffraction technologies, scientists can determine the structure and
related properties of small molecules, proteins and other crystallized
materials because of their solid, often highly symmetrical,
three-dimensional arrangement of atoms.
The IYCr2014
program seeks to increase public awareness of crystallography, inspire
young scientists, boost knowledge and access to instrumentation in
developing countries, and foster international scientific collaboration.
“Crystallography is a science that is uniquely dependent on advances in
instrumentation, so it is important that crystallographers all over the
world are able to access and use modern equipment,” said Prof. Gautam
Desiraju, IUCr president. “I am happy Agilent will work with us to help
young and aspiring crystallographers in even the most remote and
disadvantaged regions to become familiar with the latest equipment and
start using it in their work.”
“We have a long-standing commitment to the crystallographic community
through participation in and sponsorship of local conferences, events,
workshops and schools,” said Dr. Leigh Rees, Agilent’s general manager
of X-ray Diffraction. “Crystallography is a fundamental technique that
can be applied to many scientific research fields. We are proud to
partner with the IUCr and UNESCO to promote these important initiatives.”
Agilent is supporting a number of key IYCr2014 initiatives, including IUCr-UNESCO
OpenLab and the IUCr “Crystallography in Everyday Life” photo
competition. OpenLab is a network of crystallographic laboratories that
aim to increase global access to crystallographic technology and
high-level research.
Agilent application scientists will host local teaching workshops at
customer sites in developing countries, where researchers will be able
to use crystallography instrumentation, possibly for the first time.
Photo Competition to Celebrate Crystallography in Everyday Life
The
“Crystallography in Everyday Life” Photo Competition invites
aspiring photographers to submit images that capture the spirit of
crystallography. Two winners will be chosen to receive grants to attend
the 2014 IUCr Congress in Montreal, Canada. The winners and other highly
recommended entries will be featured in the Agilent/IYCr2014 Academic
Calendar and exhibited during the Montreal Congress.
Agilent will participate in other IYCr summits and events taking place
throughout 2014, including the opening ceremony at UNESCO headquarters
in Paris, Jan. 20-21. For more information on Agilent’s commitment to
IYCr2014, please visit www.chem.agilent.com/en-US/promotions/Pages/iycr2014.aspx.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement
company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences,
diagnostics, electronics and communications. The company’s 20,600
employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had
revenues of $6.8 billion in fiscal 2013. Information about Agilent is
available at www.agilent.com.
On Sept. 19, 2013, Agilent announced plans to separate into two publicly
traded companies through a tax-free spinoff of its electronic
measurement business. The new company is named Keysight Technologies,
Inc. The separation is expected to be completed in early November 2014.
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Copyright Business Wire 2014