About the BACG
Aims of the BACG
As laid down in the BACG constitution, the Association shall
History of the BACG
Read about our 40 year history by clicking here
Welcome from our President
Professor Roger Davey
School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science
The University of Manchester
"I would like to wish you a warm welcome to the British Association for Crystal Growth. As a PhD graduate of John Mullin’s research group my first BACG meeting was one held in Bristol in the early 1970s.
Since then I have had a long association with BACG both as an attendee and speaker at annual and one day meetings and as past committee member and Chair. So I have to admit that I am honoured and excited to have been elected President for the next three years.
"One thing I have learnt over my career is that crystals and crystal growth are everywhere – polymers, explosives, pharmaceuticals, optics, electronics, pigments, biology – and this has indeed turned out to be one of the great strengths of BACG. In those early meetings that I attended, I was one a small handful of scientists interested in so- called ‘industrial’ crystallisation. It was the semiconductor industry and its growing technology that featured strongly in our programmes and which we relied on heavily for financial support. In the last two decades as the UK electronics base has disappeared so the pharmaceuticals and speciality chemicals industries have assumed a much stronger role in the Association’s activities. This ability of the association to support such a wide range of its members’ interests is a key to its continuing success. As I write this I am aware that the Pharmaceutical companies themselves are currently undergoing a significant change in the way that they operate their businesses and I have no doubt that in a few years time we will see that BACG has adapted appropriately.
"The most significant activity of the association is its annual meeting which attempts to bring together scientists and engineers who share a common interest and to offer them the very best in national and international speakers on a wide range of topics. The organisation is of course a charity and as part of its charitable work we continue to support PhD students with low cost attendance at this annual meeting as well as offering bursaries to help scientists at all career levels to attend international meetings. The success of the organisation over the years has been due to the voluntary work of its committee. The current chair is Prof. Nora De Leeuw of the Department of Chemistry at University College London and I wish her and the current committee continuing success.
"Finally I would like to invite you to become involved in BACG: if you are already a member you may wish to consider increasing your involvement by offering your services as a future committee member or with help organising a smaller meeting; if you are not a member then please take a look at this years’ forthcoming conference and I am confident you will be tempted to join.
I look forward to meeting you in Manchester this September,
With best wishes,
Roger Davey"
Since then I have had a long association with BACG both as an attendee and speaker at annual and one day meetings and as past committee member and Chair. So I have to admit that I am honoured and excited to have been elected President for the next three years.
"One thing I have learnt over my career is that crystals and crystal growth are everywhere – polymers, explosives, pharmaceuticals, optics, electronics, pigments, biology – and this has indeed turned out to be one of the great strengths of BACG. In those early meetings that I attended, I was one a small handful of scientists interested in so- called ‘industrial’ crystallisation. It was the semiconductor industry and its growing technology that featured strongly in our programmes and which we relied on heavily for financial support. In the last two decades as the UK electronics base has disappeared so the pharmaceuticals and speciality chemicals industries have assumed a much stronger role in the Association’s activities. This ability of the association to support such a wide range of its members’ interests is a key to its continuing success. As I write this I am aware that the Pharmaceutical companies themselves are currently undergoing a significant change in the way that they operate their businesses and I have no doubt that in a few years time we will see that BACG has adapted appropriately.
"The most significant activity of the association is its annual meeting which attempts to bring together scientists and engineers who share a common interest and to offer them the very best in national and international speakers on a wide range of topics. The organisation is of course a charity and as part of its charitable work we continue to support PhD students with low cost attendance at this annual meeting as well as offering bursaries to help scientists at all career levels to attend international meetings. The success of the organisation over the years has been due to the voluntary work of its committee. The current chair is Prof. Nora De Leeuw of the Department of Chemistry at University College London and I wish her and the current committee continuing success.
"Finally I would like to invite you to become involved in BACG: if you are already a member you may wish to consider increasing your involvement by offering your services as a future committee member or with help organising a smaller meeting; if you are not a member then please take a look at this years’ forthcoming conference and I am confident you will be tempted to join.
I look forward to meeting you in Manchester this September,
With best wishes,
Roger Davey"