Prospects for mathematical crystallography

The potential of mathematical crystallography as an emerging field is examined from a sociological point of view. Mathematical crystallography is unusual as an emerging field as it is also an old field, albeit scattered, with evidence of continued substantial activity. But its situation is similar to that of an emerging field, so we analyse it as such. Comparisons with past emergent efforts suggest that a new field can grow if given an economic demand for its product and a receptive environment. Developing a field entails developing a sense of identity, developing infrastructure and recruiting practitioners.