The Council of the International Commission on Glass (ICG) has elected Reinhard Conradt as president of ICG for the period of 2021-2024.

Mr Conradt, former Professor and Chair of Glass and Ceramic Composites of RWTH Aachen University, was elected on 2nd December 2021 in Frankfurt, Germany.

ICG is an international association of scientists and technologists, research centres, universities and companies, with 600 experts in all branches of glass science and technology. Its main objective is to promote understanding and co-operation in the field of glass.

Founded in 1933, ICG celebrated its 88-year anniversary in 2021 and has representation from 33 countries on all continents.

Mr Conradt holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry (1981) and a Habilitation (1996) with authorisation to teach in Glass Science and Technology. After his PhD, he became involved in industry-related research at Fraunhofer Institute of Silicate Science (ISC) Würzburg, Germany, for 6 years.

He then served as a lecturer and industry consultant for 10 years in Thailand. From 1997 to 2016, he was full professor and Chair of Glass & Ceramic Composites at RWTH Aachen University.

His work has been committed to building bridges between science, especially chemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics, and industrial engineer­ing. From 2015 to 2020, he served as president of DGG.

On his new role, Mr Conradt said: “Taking over the presidency from Prof. Alicia Duran with her outstanding achievements, especially with respect to establishing the UN International Year of Glass 2022, means manoeuvring within the wake of a big ship.”

ICG’s activities largely focus on education, the promotion of young people in science and a structure of 24 Technical Committees. On this, Mr Conradt said: “The promotion of educational activities as well as a constant support for the initiative of Young Scientists and Technologists will remain a major focus.

“Special attention will be paid to the reinforcement and promotion of the activities of the Technical Committees, understood as the backbone of the ICG. Here, a joint effort of TCs directed towards the challenges of the climate issue shall be implemented.”