Elias Vlieg was officially inaugurated during the latest International Conference on Crystal Growth and Epitaxy (ICCGE-20) in Italy, in the beginning of August. Vlieg was already active within the organisation as Executive Committee Member serving as co-vice president.
The central objective of the IOCG is to establish a platform for scientists in the domain of crystallization, fostering the advancement of both theoretical principles and practical applications within crystal growth, crystal characterization, and interconnected scientific branches. The international consortium organises various initiatives concerning crystal growth, most notably the triennial International Conference on Crystal Growth and Epitaxy, alongside topical meetings on crystal growth.
The growth of crystals is essential for high-tech applications like computer chips, power electronics, energy production and storage and LED lighting, but also for the purification and manufacture of pharmaceutical compounds and food products.
In his time as president, Vlieg hopes to be working on “expanding the organisation's scope to encompass all fields of crystal growth, including pharmacy and biomineralization, and creating a basic textbook that explains the principles that unite all applications of crystal growth.”