La Edad del Vidrio

Abstract

The article summarizes the history and development of the United Nations International Year of Glass (IYOG2022). From its origin in the idea that arose in Corning, that we are transiting the Age of Glass, to the decision of the International Glass Commission (ICG) to propose the 2022 nomination as IYOG to the Permanent Mission of Spain to the UN-New York. The project attracted the immediate interest of the entire glass world, from science and industry to art and museums, which promoted the project through more than 2500 institutions in 96 countries on five continents. The road was not easy because COVID imposed restrictions everywhere. But it also demonstrated the crucial role of this material, e.g. in the packaging and distribution of vaccines in extreme conditions and, much more, in connecting and communicating the entire planet, from the big cities to the most distant villages, through wonderful optical fibre network, the physical base of the Internet. The author, Chair of IYOG 2022, offers a brief summary of the most important among the thousands of activities carried out in 2022. The world of glass has advanced in 2022 in collaboration and cooperation, beginning to build a new culture. A transversal and strong culture, where industry associations promoted education, art was born from recycled glass, and scientists and technologists explained how to pursue and achieve the challenges of sustainability and social justice using glass. The boundaries between academia, industry, and art disappeared; we all become simple citizens with the common goal of working and building together. On this path, we continue to walk through the Glass Age.