COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & SCIENCE

Bishop TC, Thayer KM, and Young R.
The Albany Conversations are now the Next Generation Conversations: Albany @ Ruston
Biophysical Reviews (2024), in press.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12551-024-01215-4

Bishop TC, Thayer KM, and Young R.
Book of Abstracts. The 1st Next Generation Conversations: Albany at Ruston 2024 (The 21st Albany Conversation)
Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics. 42(S1) 2024 https://doi.org/10.1080/07391102.2024.2384693

After 20 Conversations spanning a 40-year period, Professor Sarma retired and handed over the Conversation to the next generation (and hence NextGen at LaTech). A critical element of the success of the Albany Conversations has always been an environment, isolated from distractions, that supports extended conversations and fosters lasting relationships. Thus, Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana was chosen as an ideal setting for continuing the Conversations, and hosted the 21st Conversation in 2024. As with earlier Conversations, leaders from around the world at the Next Gen. Conversations present posters and give talks on current developments in biomolecular sequence, structure, dynamics and function using any combination of simulation, experiment, and theory.

In 1979, Professor Ramaswamy H. Sarma invited a few of his scientific colleagues for a Conversation at the State University of New York in Albany. Since then the Albany Conversations on Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics have continued every other year at SUNY. The Conversations now include about 250-300 scientists from over 20 countries. Each five-day Albany Conversation began on a Tuesday in early June (of an odd year) with a welcome dinner and celebration, a Russian-Israeli party on Thursday night,  evening addresses by one or two Nobel Laureates, and a Big Feast on Friday.  Scientific sessions for each Conversation covered a wide range of computational, theoretical, and experimental aspects of biomolecular structure and dynamics. Speakers ranged from budding students to world-renowned experts. Posters were displayed for the duration of the meetings and served as conversation starters.  International collaborations were forged and several Nobel Laureates can trace their career development to the Albany Conversations.

Abstracts from Past Albany Conversations

(external link to JBSD abstracts)

All abstracts are published in the Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics
Book of Abstracts for 2024 Next Gen. Conversation Albany@Ruston
Book of Abstracts for 2026 Next Gen. Conversation Albany@Ruston
Book of Abstracts for 2028 Next Gen. Conversation Albany@Ruston

Prof Sarma’s Albany Conversations provided a collegial, supportive environment where everyone from students to Nobel Laureates comfortably enjoyed presentations, discussions, drinks, meals, and shared housing. The Conversations were fruitful because participants adhered to widely recognized norms of mutual respect and professionalism.

Louisiana Tech University’s 12 Tenets identify characteristic traits that should guide the conduct of all students, faculty, staff and visitors:  Confidence, Excellence, Commitment, Knowledge, Integrity, Respect, Leadership, Loyalty, Enthusiasm, Caring, Hope and Pride. Scientific misconduct, harassment, discrimination, abuse of power (verbal or otherwise), threats, coercion, deception and other behaviours that are contrary to these 12 Tenets of Tech will not be tolerated by participants in the Next Gen. Conversations. Any activity by groups or individuals participating in the Next Gen. Conversations Albany at Ruston that violates this implied Code of Conduct should be reported to a member of the Next Gen. Conversations Organizing Committee,  and, as deemed necessary,  reported to Louisiana Tech’s Title IX Coordinator, and/or Campus or City Police.    

Based on the Tenets of Tech and the expected Code of Conduct, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to deny anyone the privilege of registering, attending or participating in the Next Gen. Conversations. Individuals or groups, attending a Conversation, may be banned or ejected from specific sessions, talks, activities or all remaining events without refund of any fees or the expectation of compensation for expenses incurred as a consequence of ejection. Any appeals are to be directed to the Chair of the Next Gen. Conversations Organizing Committee. The Chair’s decision to ban or eject an individual or group will be final, irrespective of any actual or perceived violation of the Code of Conduct.

Policies:
The Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics does not allow the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) for generating images, data, or original text. GAI guided revisions of original text are allowed with acknowledgment.  All materials submitted for publication in the Book of Abstracts for the Next Gen. Conversations must also adhere to any additional Journal policies.
The Organizing Team, guided by the 12 Tenets of Tech, reserves the right to accept/reject any application or abstract for the Next Gen. Conversation without specifying any particular reason.

As visitors to the Louisiana Tech University Campus , all participants in the Conversation are subject to relevant Louisiana Tech Policies, including those that apply to dormitories and housing.

Contact Information and Responsible Individuals for the 2026 Next Gen. Conversations

2026 Organizing Committee Chair:
Tom C Bishop, Chemistry and Physics Programs at Louisiana Tech, bishop@latech.edu  318-257-5209

2026 Organizing Committee:  Profs  Kelly Thayer (Wesleyan), Aditya Mittal(IIT-Delhi), Freddie Salsbury(WFU)

Louisiana Tech University’s Policies are maintained online: 
https://www.latech.edu/administration/policies/

Other responsible individuals, reporting links, contact information and more can be found at the bottom of
Louisiana Tech University web pages:  “https://www.latech.edu/”>https://www.latech.edu/