From November 17 to 23, the 2024 International Commission on Glass Winter School (the 6th Workshop for New Researchers in Glass Science and Applications) was held at WUT, initiated by the International Commission on Glass (ICG) and organized by the Chinese Ceramic Society, with support from the State Key Laboratory of Silicate Materials for Architectures and China Triumph International Engineering Co.,Ltd. The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Meng Fangbing, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Wuhan University of Technology Committee; Jin Zhanping, Vice President of the Chinese Ceramic Society; and Peng Shou, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

The Winter School invited renowned international experts in the field of glass materials, including Professor Alicia Duran from Spain, the former ICG President and President of the Committee of International Year of Glass 2022, former ICG President Professor Reinhard Conradt from Germany, Professor John Parker from the University of Sheffield in the UK, Professor Edgar Zanotto from the Federal University of São Carlos in Brazil, Professor Akira Takada from Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. and University College London, and Senior Scientist Qiang Fu from Corning Inc. Additionally, prominent domestic professors such as Professor Qiu Jianrong from Zhejiang University, Researcher Ren Jinjun from the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Deng Binghui from Huazhong University of Science and Technology also served as keynote speakers. Over 60 domestic and international participants from companies, research institutes, and universities, including Corning Inc., Queen Mary University of London, the Spanish Institute of Glass and Ceramics, China National Building Material Group Co., Ltd., Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, and Central South University. The Winter School featured two parallel thematic sessions: Fundamentals in Glass Science and High-Strength Transparent Glass Ceramics.

Meng Fangbing extended a warm welcome to the guests and participants on behalf of WUT. He pointed out the importance of advanced glass materials as a hallmark of the university’s commitment to addressing regional economic and societal development needs as well as its efforts to achieve high-level technological independence and self-reliance in the context of high-tech competition. “That the ICG Winter School is held at our university shows its significant recognition of our research level in glass materials, and it is of great importance to promote our further research in related fields and strengthen our exchanges and cooperation in glass materials with advanced peers overseas.”

In his speech, Jin Zhanping stated that the ICG Winter School serves as an important platform for young scientists in the glass field to exchange ideas, spark creativity, and delve into the profound mysteries of glass science.

Academician Peng Shou extended warm congratulations on the successful opening of the Winter School on behalf of China National Building Material Company. He encouraged young scholars and graduate students, as the new force and future pillars of glass innovation research and development, to bravely explore unknown innovative fields in glass and and contribute to building a future characterized by innovation and intelligence.

Professor Reinhard Conradt, former ICG President, delivered a speech on behalf of the International Commission on Glass, expressing the hope that the Winter School could enhance the application and practice of glass science and technology fundamentals in future research.

The Winter School was conducted through expert lectures, student exchanges, and group projects. Experts grouped participants according to their research fields and interests and assigned 12 open-ended project tasks.

At the closing ceremony, Professor John Parker and Professor Reinhard Conradt issued certificates of completion to participants, marking the successful conclusion of the Winter School.

As the largest international academic organization in the field of glass science and technology, the ICG established the Winter School as a public academic initiative to deepen junior researchers’ understanding of glass science and technology, while cultivating talent to support the global glass industry’s sustainable development.

Written by: Zhang Jihong

Rewritten by: Mei Mengqi

Edited by: Liang Muwei, Li Tiantian

Source: State Key Laboratory of Silicate Materials for Architectures