Dear Colleagues,

On behlalf of Professor Gautam R. Desiraju, Chairman, Local Organizing Committee and the conference organizers I  would like to inform all crystallographers in Sweden that the 24th Congress and General Assembly of the International Union of Crystallography will be held in Hyderabad, India between 21 and 28 August, 2017. I would like to invite you to attend and participate in this meeting. I would also like to obtain your suggestions as to how to secure the maximum participation of crystallographers from Iran and structural scientists (including students) in the congress. If you can circulate my letter to all interested persons through your crystallographic association or your national committee, I would be grateful.
 
The program will be fixed next March and will cover all areas of crystallography. 
 
We are making every effort to have a nice conference package for students and scientists which will include registration (including lunch) and accommodation in 3- and 4-star hotels on sharing basis or individual occupancy. This would come at a rate that is definitely affordable by students and faculty. Details will be known next year.  There are many 5-star hotels as well in the vicinity of the conference center (including within the center itself, which is the most convenient).

It is now certain that the exhibition area, the poster area and the lunch area will be in the same large hall in the conference center. It is also quite possible that we will introduce electronic posters in this IUCr congress. There is already some interest from European companies in holding satellite symposia focused on the pharma industry, which is quite strong here.
 
Please be aware that there are good air connections to Hyderabad from Iran  through airports in the Gulf region (Dubai/Doha to Hyderabad is 4 hours).
 
Preliminary information is given in our web page at www.iucr2017.org where you will also find some stuff on India, Hyderabad and crystallography in India. This is a huge country and if you are interested in sight seeing before or after the congress you need to plan properly. However, Hyderabad itself offers lots of good things and it is a unique city in our country because of its unusual amalgamation of cultural features. The weather is mild in August in Hyderabad (generally between 25 and 30 deg C.https://weatherspark.com/averages/33947/8/Hyderabad-Andhra-Pradesh-India. See conference web page). The peak of our summer is in April and May.
 
 
I also attach a poster for display and hope to see you in Hyderabad in 2017!
 
With best wishes,

Rahul Banerjee