Recently, together with two close colleagues, I published a paper in the first issue of this Journal: "The Strength of Silicate Glasses: What do We Know, What do We Need to Know?"1 I was pleased to take part in this effort for two reasons. Since the early 1970s I have been intimately involved in studying the "strength of glass." At that time, AT&T was seriously concerned with the development of silica lightguide fibers. Bell Labs had arguably many of the best optical physicists in the world working to design and perfect a glass lightguide that would have low enough optical loss to be economically viable: that is, o20 dB/km. However, the question of whether fibers could be made long enough and strong enough was an issue as that of the optical quality. Bell Labs also had a history of research work in the area of solid mechanics: among others the "Frank- Read Source"—the generation of multiple defects: J. R. Patel—the effects of electronic defects on mechanical properties of crystals and especially the early analysis of problems in the area of "strength of glass" by O. L. Anderson. At this time (circa 1970), however, none of these experts was available and thus, by default, the task of studying the strength of silica glass fibers was assigned to me and my "glass colleagues." Many other companies around the world attacked this glass fiber strength problem seriously. Mainly because of this concerted (though not collaborative) effort, a "solution" was found rather quickly. The mounting of such a concentrated effort is not normally possible in the glass industry. This then leads to the second and perhaps most important reason for my interest. For the last 30 years or so of my now 55 years in glass research, I have become increasingly concerned about the "state of glass research." In particular, in two quite old2,3 and three4–6 fairly recent publications, I have documented what I believe are very serious "lapses" in glass R&D "protocol." It is my belief that one of the things that slows progress in the glass industry and in glass science, is the very long "delay time" between the "first proof of principle" and either follow-up research or application of the principle to practice. This is primarily the result of the relatively small number of research workers in the field at any one time as well as the lack of collaboration between them! Below I will describe the GMIC/IMI effort to set up an international coalition to study fundamental issues in the strength of glass. Although it may be that the glass companies will find that such an effort in the basic science of strength is not in their best interest, I think passing up this opportunity would be a mistake. However, one of the things that might convince them is an indication of why we think the present is a very appropriate time for such collaborative research. Following the short history of the GMIC/IMI effort, I will describe some very exciting new glass science that should argue that the time is NOW.
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