Editorial Challenging Glass Conference 8

We gradually emerge from two difficult years of the covid-19 pandemic raging through the world in waves of constantly changing intensities. The associated uncertainties really put the ‘challenging’ into Challenging Glass this time. Still, some of our peers are not able to join us in Ghent, and they will be sorely missed. Nevertheless, we are happy to be able to return this year to the ‘real thing’: a live event which allows the international glass community to finally meet again in person. An excellent opportunity, especially within the UN-declared International Year of Glass 2022. We look forward to reconnect with international colleagues and old friends, but we also want to extend a particularly warm welcome to new and young peers who perhaps have not yet had many opportunities to build their professional network.