Invitation from the Symposium Organizers
On behalf of the Organizing Committee for the
26th Austin Symposium on Molecular Structure and Dynamics at Dallas (ASMD@D)
taking place from Saturday, March 5 to Monday, March 7, 2016 in Dallas, Texas, USA,
we have the pleasure of inviting structural chemists, molecular spectroscopists, chemists working on dynamics, and computational chemists from around the globe to visit Dallas, Texas, USA in the second week of March, 2016 and to attend the ASMD@D 2016.
For the last 50 years the ASMDs (see Previous Programs) have been important gathering points for internationally recognized experts, researchers, and students working in structural chemistry, molecular spectroscopy and molecular dynamics, as well as computational chemistry. Thousands of scientists with expertise in diffraction methods, spectroscopy, and calculational methods have taken advantage of previous ASMDs to present and discuss novel methods and techniques, unusual molecular structures, and interesting reaction dynamics. In the past ASMDs have been often the incubator of new research projects and in more than one case initialized work that was recognized by the Nobel committee (see History).
In 2012, the ASMD moved to Dallas, became ASMD at Dallas (ASMD@D) and was organized for the first time by the CATCO group at Southern Methodist University (SMU), Dallas, Texas, USA. CATCO organized the 25th Austin Symposium in memoriam of James E. Boggs, who was honored in a special issue of J. Phys. Chem. A. CATCO will also organize the 2016 Symposium.
In 2016, the venue of the ASMD@D will be Highland Dallas Hotel across the Southern Methodist University (SMU) campus responding to the suggestion of the board members and many conference participants to bring the venue closer to SMU and Dallas downtown. The Highland Dallas provides besides a modern conference center, a comfortable environment for ample discussions and leisure time. The hotel can be easily reached in a 40-minute taxi drive (26 miles) from the Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport or, alternatively, by the DART train connection between the DFW International Airport and Mockingbird Station, which is next to the conference hotel at 5300 E Mockingbird Lane. For national flights, Dallas Love Field Airport might be more convenient, which is just a 10-minute taxi drive away (6 miles).
The official conference program of the ASMD@D 2016 will begin on Saturday, morning March 5 and will end Monday evening, March 7 with a fare-well dinner. For conference participants being already in Dallas on Friday, March 4, a well-come dinner will be served. Please note, that both dinners as well as all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the official conference days (March5 to March 7) are included in the registration fee.
The number of plenary, invited lectures, and poster sessions will be similar to those at previous ASMDs. The Symposium Banquet with lecture and presentation of the ASMD@D prices will take place Sunday evening, March 6 at the Highland Dallas hotel.
ASMD@D 2016 will be organized in the spirit of previous symposia:
- Listen and discuss
- Meet international experts
- No parallel sessions
- A place where important interdisciplinary work can start
- A place where new positions can be found
ASMD@D will be a symposium with ample time for listening to colleagues, getting inspired and informed, and engaging in scientific discussions so hat the seed of future interdisciplinary projects can be laid. Helpful in this connection is the fact that parallel sessions are avoided.
ASMD@D is an international rather than a national or local meeting. Similarly as done in the past, the organizers will and have already invited a number of internationally recognized scientists from the broader area of structural chemistry, spectroscopy, molecular dynamics, and computational chemistry as speakers.
We will also attempt to attract a number of younger colleagues and students. Please note that, as in previous years, ASMD@D 2016 is an excellent platform for younger scientists to establish contacts and lay the basis for future postdoctoral or academic positions.
Apart from the symposium schedule, social events in and outside of Dallas will be planned. A detailed schedule will be worked out in the months to come.
We are looking forward to seeing you in Dallas March 2016.
