3rd Edition of the SAXS and SANS Days: A Key Event for the Community

On November 17 and 18, 2025, the teams led by Pascal Andreazza and Marion Louvel, in collaboration with researchers from ICSM and an organizing committee bringing together numerous national institutions and universities, hosted in Orléans the 3rd edition of the SAXS and SANS Days. With 65 participants and the support of the RÉCIPROCS network as well as several sponsors, the event confirmed its central role in training and structuring the SAXS/SANS community.

The program alternated between introductory courses and advanced lectures. The training sessions, delivered by Marianne Imperor-Clerc, Olivier Taché, Pascal Andreazza, and Clémence Le Cœur, provided a solid foundation ranging from fundamental principles to instrumentation and complementary approaches. The invited lectures highlighted cutting-edge research: Chi-Huan Tung presented the use of machine learning for the analysis of lamellar phases, Tänzer Torne explored the 3D organization of the auditory ossicles, and Giorgio Schiro discussed the contributions of X-ray scattering at synchrotrons and XFELs.

The strong participation of early-career researchers, together with the richness of discussions and the round table dedicated to the future of the community, attested to the dynamism of the field. The event also strengthened collective engagement around the RÉCIPROCS network and the pooling of resources within the network.

^{Credit: ICSM}

Finally, the candidacies of Grenoble and Lyon to host the 2026 edition herald a promising continuity for the upcoming SAXS and SANS Days.