International Commission on Glass

International Commission on Glass
Name	International Commission on Glass
Formation	1933
Founder	International Congress on Glass; Royal Society of Chemistry; Deutsche Glastechnische Gesellschaft
Type	Non-governmental organization
Headquarters	Cambridge, United Kingdom
Location	International
Membership	National Committees; Individual Members
Leader title	President
Leader name	Sir Alastair Pilkington; Edmund Rust; Francesco Arduini

International Commission on Glass The International Commission on Glass is an international non-governmental body devoted to the scientific study, technological development, and dissemination of knowledge about glass and glass-related materials. It connects national glass societies, research institutes, industrial manufacturers, and academic departments to coordinate research, standardization, and education across continents. The Commission fosters collaboration between scientists, engineers, and institutions involved with silicate materials, optical materials, and glass-ceramics.

History

The Commission traces origins to early twentieth-century gatherings such as the International Congress on Glass and post-World War I exchanges among the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Deutsche Glastechnische Gesellschaft, and the American Ceramic Society. Formal consolidation occurred in the interwar period alongside meetings in Berlin, Paris, and London that linked figures from Corning Incorporated, BASF, Siemens AG, and national research laboratories. During the post-World War II expansion, collaborations expanded to include delegations from the National Physical Laboratory (United Kingdom), the National Bureau of Standards (United States), and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Cold War era contacts reached researchers from the Institute of Silicate Chemistry of Ukraine Academy of Sciences, the Vitreous State Laboratory, and laboratories in Moscow and Leningrad. The Commission adapted to globalization with membership growth in India, Japan, China, Brazil, and South Africa and with linkage to multinational corporations such as Schott AG, Saint-Gobain, and Guardian Industries.

Organisation and Membership

The governing structure includes an elected executive, scientific committees, and national committees representing societies like the American Ceramic Society Glass and Optical Materials Division, the British Glass Manufacturers' Confederation, the Glass and Glazing Federation, the Federazione Italiana del Vetro, the Société Française du Verre, and the Deutsche Glastechnische Gesellschaft. Institutional members include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, ETH Zurich, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Tsinghua University, Indian Institute of Science, Kyoto University, and University of California, Berkeley. Industry partners encompass Corning Incorporated, Schott AG, Saint-Gobain, Nippon Electric Glass, Shoei Chemical, and AGC Inc.. Liaison relationships exist with standards bodies such as International Organization for Standardization, European Committee for Standardization, and regional academies including the National Academy of Sciences (United States) and the Royal Society. Membership categories cover individual scientists, corporate members, and national committees from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of) , Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States.

Objectives and Activities

The Commission’s objectives include promoting research in glass science among institutions like Max Planck Society, fostering technological transfer between corporations such as Dupont and research centers like the École Normale Supérieure, and advising on standardization topics with International Electrotechnical Commission. It organizes working groups on topics connected to optical fibers with links to Bell Labs, photonics research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and membrane technologies explored at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Activities cover symposia on glass-ceramics developments driven by work at Tohoku University, tutorials on high-temperature measurements referencing National Institute of Standards and Technology, and task forces addressing environmental aspects relevant to United Nations Environment Programme dialogues.

Conferences and Publications

The Commission sponsors triennial conferences and thematic meetings in partnership with organizations such as the European Ceramic Society, the International Commission on Illumination, the Society of Glass Technology, and the American Ceramic Society. Major conferences have convened in venues including Prague, Rome, Kyoto, St. Petersburg, Boston, and Barcelona and featured presentations by researchers from Imperial College London, University of Tokyo, University of Sydney, Delft University of Technology, and Polytechnic University of Milan. Publications include proceedings, technical reports, and commissioned monographs with contributors from Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Wiley-VCH. The Commission also supports journals such as Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, Glass Technology: European Journal of Glass Science and Technology Part A, and Ceramics International through editorial collaboration and special issues.

Awards and Recognition

The Commission recognizes outstanding contributions via medals, lecture prizes, and early-career awards in association with bodies like the Royal Society of Chemistry and the American Ceramic Society. Awardees have included scientists affiliated with Corning Incorporated Research Center, Molecular Foundry, Brunel University, University of Manchester, CNRS, and Max Planck Institutes. Honors often coincide with major events such as the International Congress on Glass and are presented alongside distinctions from institutions like the Royal Society and national academies including the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

Collaborations and Impact

Collaborations extend to multinational companies Saint-Gobain, academic consortia including the European Research Council-funded projects, and governmental laboratories like Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory. The Commission’s work influences standards adopted by ISO technical committees, innovations in fiber optics used by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, and architectural glazing practices employed by firms such as Foster + Partners and Norman Foster. Its impact spans heritage conservation efforts at institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum, sustainability initiatives aligned with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and educational programs at universities including University College London and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Category:Glass science Category:International scientific organizations