Is There a Relationship Between Cryptography and the Applied Cryptography Community?

Cryptography is one of those areas where academia and implementation is actually closer together than other areas of Bitcoin. There seems to be this sort of like, at least arm length's relationship in other parts with a disdain for outsiders not properly understanding the system. In cryptography you get people that are actually academically trained in the field contributing but also an appreciation from the personalities who just appreciate that there's another side.