29th Austin Symposium on Molecular Structure and Dynamics at Dallas, February 2027

29^th Austin Symposium on Molecular Structure and Dynamics at Dallas (ASMD@D)

Planned for February 2027 in Dallas, Texas, USA

For more than 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, molecular dynamics, and computational chemistry. Presenting and discussing novel methods and techniques, unusual molecular structures and their chemical reactions, ASMDs have often been the incubator of new research projects, and have in more than one occasion initialized work recognized by the Nobel Committee in Stockholm (see History).

In 2012, the ASMD moved to Dallas, Texas, and became the ASMD at Dallas (ASMD@D). It is organized by the Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group (CATCO) at the Southern Methodist University (SMU).

The 27^th annual symposium was dedicated in memoriam of Dieter Cremer (1944 - 2017), who served as the Chairman of the 2012, 2014, and 2016 ASMD@D meetings. Dieter Cremer vitalized the symposia with many new ideas and inspired countless scientific discussions. His scientific accomplishments were honored in a special issue of Molecular Physics, Volume 117, (9-12), 1047-1538 (2019), collecting 45 articles.

The 28^th ASMD@D, held for the first time on the beautiful campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU), was a great success. The meeting brought together 122 participants from 14 countries, reflecting the truly international spirit of the symposium. In addition to the invited guests, many faculty, students, and researchers from SMU and neighboring Metroplex universities joined the lectures, along with representatives from several industries, creating a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere. The scientific program maintained the strong tradition of previous symposia, featuring 8 plenary lectures, 53 invited talks, and an impressive 54 poster presentations. A highlight of the conference banquet was the announcement of a special issue of the Journal of Computational Chemistry (JCC), initiated by the conference participants to honor Elfi Kraka’s scientific achievements on the occasion of her 70th birthday. The resulting Festschrift with many contributions from conference participants, exemplifies the scientific depth and collegiality of the ASMD community.

For the 29^th ASMD@D the number of plenary speakers, invited lecturers, and poster sessions will be similar to those of previous ASMDs.

The 29^th ASMD@D 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@Ds offer ample time for listening to colleagues, getting inspired, informed, and engaged in scientific discussions, so that the seed of future interdisciplinary projects can be laid. In aid of this, there are no parallel sessions.

ASMD@Ds are international rather than national or local meetings. As in previous years, the organizers will invite a number of internationally recognized speakers from the broader area of structural chemistry, spectroscopy, molecular dynamics, and computational chemistry.

We will also, as in previous meetings, aim to attract a number of younger colleagues and students, making the event an excellent platform for early-career scientists to establish contacts and lay the foundation for future postdoctoral or academic positions. The details will be worked out over the coming year.

We look forward to seeing you in February 2027!

Elfi Kraka on behalf of the Organizers