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IUCr Osaka Congress 2008

I am trying to arrange one or more open COMCIFS meetings at the IUCr Congress in Osaka in 2008.  In addition the Computing Commission is proposing a joint open session with COMCIFS, but no theme has yet been chosen for this.  I am writing to solicit suggestions for topics that you think COMCIFS should included in the Congress program.

So far I have had two suggestions:

 1. Software for DDLm - this is the new methods-based dictionary
          definition language that Syd Hall is proposing.  DDLm was 
          adopted in principle by COMCIFS in Florence as the basis 
          for further development of CIF, and the definitive
          version of DDLm is now posted on the COMCIFS web site
          for discussion prior to COMCIFS being asked for formal
          approval.  Syd's colleagues (primarily Nick Spadaccini
          in Perth) have done some prototype software development. 
          There may not be many other active developers by 
          August 2008, but that just means this session could be 
          an excellent opportunity to encourage them.

   2. imgCIF and NeXus - Herbert Bernstein and Bob Sweet are working
          hard to promote uptake of imgCIF in synchrotron facilities,
          and a recent workshop in Bloomington looks set to add weight
          to the adoption of imgCIF as a diffraction data standard for
          small-molecule crystallography.  NeXus is the standard data
          framework emerging for data management in the big facilities
          (and it's likely that it can coexist happily with imgCIF),
          so a speaker on NeXus would also seem appropriate.

Are there any other suggestions for possible topics?  Suggestions for possible session chairs and speakers would be welcome, including chairs and speakers for the two topics above.

David Brown
Chair COMCIFS

P.S. I will be orgainizing the usual closed COMCIFS meetings to deal with specific problems  that COMCIFS needs to deal with.

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