Purpose of IMI: To advance fundamental materials research by coordinating international research and education projects involving materials physics; solid state and materials chemistry; and the design, synthesis, characterization, and processing of materials.

Long term goal: Creation of a worldwide network of materials R & D with a new generation of scientists and engineers skilled in enhanced international leadership capabilities. A critically important aspect of an IMI is advancing materials research on an international scale and developing an internationally competitive generation of materials researchers.
By 2002 NSF’s Division of Materials Research (DMR) had initiated the first six IMIs, each targeted to a specific opportunity for international technical collaboration. Our IMI, focused on New Functionality ion Glass, joins these as the latest member, first announced in December 2003 (IMI for NFG).

Concerns For the Glass Research In the US:
During the last two decades worldwide: Severe Fragmentation of Glass Research

- Elimination of many industrial laboratories

- Shift of governmental funding to nano and biosciences.

- Also in academia, with the retirement of senior leaders at the traditional academic centers and a concurrent hiring of solo faculty at a much larger number of institutions.

Need for Action:
The future of glass is promising, but to remain competitive there is an urgent need for well defined, targeted efforts by the glass community to:

(a) Coordinate fundamental and applied research activities that will introduce new functionalities

(b) Pool resources to educate the next generation of researchers and engineers who will have the in-depth glass knowledge and expertise to contribute effectively

(c) Stimulate communication between the glass and other research communities that may benefit from the existing glass functionalities and/or birth opportunities for new glass functions.

(d) Outreach to the K-12 (especially the pre-college) students to share the importance, relevance and ubiquity of glass in their lives as well as the opportunities and excitement that lie ahead for the future material scientists and engineers.

Summary

The field of glass science and engineering will have a promising future if it can proactively respond to the changing culture of research and education. NSF's new IMI-NFG offers unprecedented opportunity for the glass community to meet the challenges via: International Collaborations, Delivery of education across the boundaries, Outreach to undergraduates and pre-college students via modules, hands-on experiments, etc.

Most importantly, we need participation of the glass community!
Comments, suggestions, queries are most welcome.