Prof De Las Peñas Delivers Groundbreaking Crystallography Keynote in Taipei

Professor Louise Antonette N De Las Peñas, Professor of Mathematics at the Ateneo de Manila University opened the Asian Crystallographic Association (ASCA) Congress held in the Taipei International Convention Center in Taipei last December 2-5, 2025 with a keynote titled "Mathematical Approaches to Symmetry in Crystallography". Prof De Las Peñas, an international leader in mathematical crystallography, is the first Filipino to be invited as a plenary speker in any congress organized by ASCA. She talked about the interplay between group theory and discrete geometry with a focus on the study of symmetrical structures. She presented recent research results of her research teams on diperiodic (layer), monoperiodic (rod), periodic symmetrical structures and aperiodic (quasicrystalline) structures, and mathematical advances contributing to the development of new materials (e.g. nanomaterials and metal organic frameworks (MOFs)) were discussed. Prof De Las Peñas presented the novel contributions of her team to mathematical crystallography in art and cultural heritage . She also talked about her pioneering work in studying mathematics of Philippine indigenous textile, mats, baskets and tattoos. She is currently Consultant of the International Union of Crystallography Commission on Mathematical and Theoretical Crystallography, and is Co-Editor of Acta Crystallographica: Foundations and Advances, and Column Editor of the Mathematical Intelligencer.