Welcome to the Glass Age

175 Many of the issues in running a glass furnace or processing glass have become the domain of the relevant experts within the supply chain. It remains the case that those in more responsible positions in the glass industry need a broad knowledge of many engineering disciplines, an awareness of who to talk to, and an ability to filter the information received. The future will undoubtedly bring fresh opportunities with new markets and enhanced products. It will also come with its share of difficulties, starting with the need to ensure sustainability and a zero carbon lifestyle. People of insight, determination and energy are needed, able to access the huge databases of stored knowledge, imagine undreamt of solutions, anticipate hurdles and ensure glass takes its rightful place in our lives. Wider aspects of education Educating consumers on sustainable lifestyles depends on distributing information through standards, labelling and advertising. The concept of a “circular economy” needs to be fully comprehended so all can commit to the challenges of global change; ways to maintain a lifestyle without damaging the planet need explaining. Many organizations already do this and the IYoG2022 offers a unique and exceptional opportunity to disseminate best practices and the importance of a sustainable lifestyle. While important in maintaining the status quo glass has shown a remarkable capacity to re-invent itself and help solve new problems that the world is facing be they medical, architectural, transport, communications etc. Much of this book is based around these themes. Individual enthusiasts are always needed to cope with ever changing circumstances and to push forward change. Such progress can only be based on a sound foundation, an accurate and reliable knowledge base. That brings us to the final aspect of Education and Learning: the importance of understanding at the deepest level, which has as its starting point a process of questioning and leads to an exploration of the future. One part of this process is the creation of textbooks, databases and even libraries which record what is known on the subject. Academia has played a vital role Figure 11.5. A reminder of the importance of lifelong learning. Source: Pixabay.