Welcome to the Glass Age

15 history, the view here is that the best is yet to come as glass science continues to evolve and be better understood [1]. Paradoxically, despite this history undergirding modern society, various texts written on nanotechnology rarely mention glass as a quintessentially nanotech material , while for glass scientists and engineers, the fabrication and application of glass begins and ends with their understanding physical and chemical phenomena at the nanoscale and below. Heralding the advent of The Age of Glass will help address this oversight and bring to the attention of the public at large the critical role glass has in our daily lives. Subsequent lectures by Manoj Choudhary, then ICG President, and David Pye given to international audiences explored the theme that glass science, engineering and art are entering new and profound chapters in their histories. Based on the above remarks, a sense of history, and appreciation of a seminal idea whose time has come it is a great honor to chronicle here and affirm the advent of The Age of Glass , and by extension a UN declared International Year of Glass. Prompted by the very positive reactions to the above, David Pye discussed the concept of an International Year of Glass (IYOG) with Charles L. Craig, Senior Vice President, Science and Technology, Corning Inc. He was strongly supportive and encouraged its pursuit. Soon thereafter Profs. Choudhary and Pye introduced a motion in September 2018 at a meeting of the Council of the International Commission on Glass in Japan which read: The International Commission on Glass, representing organizations and individuals throughout the world dedicated to the promotion of science, technology, artistry, and application of glass enthusiastically endorses the exploration of a future declaration of a Year of Glass by the United Nations. Following its positive reception, Prof. Pye presented the concept to the American Ceramic Society and the Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG). Both embraced the idea, the latter leading Steven T. Gibbs, a senior administrator at CMoG, to play a pivotal role in advancing IYOG 2022 Figure 1.2. A white filigrana vessel created using techniques similar to those now used for optical fibers. Source: © Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia - Museo del Vetro di Murano - Archivio Fotografico.