Symmetry in focus

From August 29 to September 1, 2022, the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (MPI CPfS, Dresden) and the Faculty of Chemistry at the TU Dresden collaborated to hold a three-day intensive seminar on "Symmetry Relationships in Crystal Chemistry". The invitation of PD Dr. Ulrich Schwarz (MPI CPfS) and Prof. Thomas Doert (Faculty of Chemistry) was accepted by 45 selected young scientists from all over Germany.

In 20 lectures, the basics, applications and examples were presented of how complex crystallographic challenges can be solved with the help of group theoretical tools and how the description of crystal structures can be systematized. In order to practice and deepen the material learned, selected exercises on all lecture topics were worked on together for several hours under the guidance of the lecturers.

With the introduction to crystallographic basics and the symmetry information in the International Tables for Crystallography (Thomas Doert) as well as to matrix operations and crystallographic transformations (Michael Ruck, Dresden), the foundations for the more advanced teaching content of the workshop were created on the first day. On the second day, subgroups of space groups and symmetry relationships were explained in detail (Caroline Röhr, Freiburg) and deepened with examples of intermetallic compounds (Theresa Block, Münster). The next days brought practical examples and applications with crystallographic twinning (Oliver Oeckler, Leipzig) and structural phase transformations (Holger Kohlmann, Leipzig), before finally presenting the wide range of crystallographic tools of the "Bilbao Crystallographic Server" (Gemma de la Flor Martin, Karlsruhe).

The high density of information and the challenging exercises were met by the participants with a high level of motivation and concentration, which was also reflected in many lively discussions inside and outside the seminar room during the four days. Participants and lecturers left the venue enriched by a variety of new insights, impressions and personal contacts and impressed by the success of the seminar. Thanks to the generous financial support of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, the German Crystallographic Society and the Wilhelm Klemm Foundation (Münster), the workshop was free of charge for the participants. A big thank you also goes to Prof. Juri Grin and the staff of his research department Chemical Metallurgy at the MPI CPfS for providing the infrastructure and the always friendly as well as the competent and uncomplicated support before and during the event!