2025 International Congress on Glass

SGT President at the International Congress on Glass

Society of Glass Technology president Professor Arun Varshneya attended the XXVII International Congress on Glass (ICG), January 20–24, 2025, at the Biswa Bangla Convention Center, Kolkata (India). The main theme of the 27th ICG was: “Glass: A Smart and Indispensable Material for Sustainable Society” and the focus of the event was on emerging technologies that can catalyze transformations in the use of glass products in various fields. The primary host was the Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI), Kolkata. The Conference was organized in association with the Indian Ceramic Society, All India Glass Manufacturers’ Federation, and the Glazing Society of India.

The Congress comprised 240 oral presentations and 87 posters spread into six parallel sessions over five days. Oral presentations included 11 plenaries, 22 keynote speakers, and 94 invited speakers. The Conference had roughly 580 registrations along with over 200 complimentary student attendees from local colleges focusing on glass.

The SGT president was invited to be a dignitary on the dais at the opening ceremony and asked to present a Welcome to the delegates. In his speech, Professor Varshneya thanked Team ICG 2025 India for having done an outstanding job with the complex organization. While wearing the SGT presidential medallion, he then focused mainly on the large number of students present: with a glimpse of his 62-years journey as a student from Agra (India) to becoming professor of glass science at Alfred University, Alfred NY, writing his textbook, Fundamentals of Inorganic Glasses, thereafter acquiring the nickname, “The Glass Guru”, eventually to become the first elected non-British, non-UK domiciled President of the Society of Glass Technology. His message: you should be proud of your heritage like I am; you have a wonderful education in fundamentals of glass, stay focused and remain motivated since “learning is a never-ending pleasure” and “in a few years you could be me and more!”