Over the years, X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques have become one of the most powerful tools used by solid-state scientists for the structural characterization of materials. These techniques are the backbone of Crystallography and have been essential for the study of a wide variety of materials, from minerals to biological macromolecules such as DNA and proteins, as well as semiconductors, catalysts, ceramics, metal complexes, natural products, pharmaceutical ingredients, and other important materials

Specifically, X-ray diffraction techniques on polycrystalline samples (or powders, as they are commonly called) are especially important as analytical techniques in processes that require the identification and quantification of the components of solids of various kinds. These techniques also make it possible to monitor the structural changes in materials when they are subjected to various treatments (chemical, humidity, temperature, pressure, etc.). They are also used in the characterization of nanomaterials, since they allow the determination of the nanometric size of their crystalline domains as well as other important microstructural aspects of the materials. Furthermore, the crystal structure of numerous interesting materials has been determined using X-ray powder diffraction data..

As stated on previous occasions, this school was initially intended to be a Colombian-Venezuelan School of Crystallography and part of a joint graduate program of three universities in Colombia's coffee-growing region: the University of Caldas, the Technological University of Pereira, and the University of Quindío. After some consideration, it was decided to take the opportunity of opening the school to students from other regions of Colombia and Ecuador, the other neighboring country. Participants from other Latin American countries are also welcome. The support provided by the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) and the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) will be used to help students and early-career scientists cover their room and board costs.

The III ISCr Ibagué-2025 Organizing Committee fully supports and promotes gender equality in accordance with the IUCr policy stated in https://www.iucr.org/iucr/principles-and-policies/gender-balance. We will ensure gender equality in the Organizing Committee, among the instructors and participants, and pay special attention to the gender balance in evaluating bursary applications. In accordance with IUCr policy, the gender statistics of the school can be obtained after the school by contacting the Chair of the III ISCr Ibagué-2025 Organizing Committee. Further information can be found on the website of IUCr’s Gender Equity and Diversity Committee GEDC (https://www.iucr.org/iucr/governance/advisory-committees/gedc).

The Organizing Committee of III ISCr Ibagué-2025 will observe the policy of non-discrimination and affirms the right and freedom of the participants to associate in international scientific activity without regard to such factors as ethnic origin, religion, citizenship, language, political stance, gender, sex, or age, in accordance with the Statutes of the International Science Council (ISC). At III ISCr Ibagué-2025 no barriers will exist which would prevent the attendance of bona fide participants. 

All students, early-career researchers, and all professional scientists working on Powder Diffraction and related fields are welcome, regardless of their ethnic origin, race, citizenship, language, political views, gender, sex, sexual preferences, physical disabilities, and age. We strive to create a culture of diversity, equality, and inclusion.