International Day of Ceramics: Celebrating the importance of ceramics in modern society

Dear ACerS members and readers,

Since ancient times, ceramics have played a foundational role in the evolution of human society. Sun-dried clay bricks were used to construct permanent living structures in early agricultural settlements, from the circular dwellings in Jericho to the monumental adobe architecture in Peru. As civilizations developed writing systems, clay tablets served as the medium for recording the characteristic wedge-shaped cuneiform scripts.

Advancing into the Bronze Age, refractories are perhaps one of the earliest demonstrations of advanced ceramic applications, with fire-resistant clay kilns and furnaces supporting the emerging metalworking sector. The ability to perform high-temperature firing processes also opened the door to creating new ceramic forms, such the delicate Chinese porcelain that became the envy and inspiration for the European ceramics industry.

The development of microscale imaging techniques and technologies in the 20^th century set the stage for a new era of engineered ceramics. Now, we see ceramics used in everything from artificial tissue scaffolding to radiation-resistant coatings to emerging quantum computing systems.

Despite their transformative influence on our world, ceramics often receive less recognition than other materials. This relative obscurity is due to several factors. For one, materials science is often left out of primary and secondary school education, and even at the university level, few degree programs exist that focus explicitly on ceramic engineering. Furthermore, ceramics are typically embedded within larger systems and devices, so their presence in everyday life is hidden from the casual observer.

The ceramics industry offers incredible opportunities for innovation in everything from healthcare to renewable energy, so it is important to show the public that ceramics represent not just our historical past but the building blocks of our technological future. To this end, the international ceramics community will celebrate the International Day of Ceramics on March 12, 2026.

This global initiative, which was originally proposed by the Japan Fine Ceramics Association, was announced publicly last year. It aims to celebrate and promote the vital role ceramics play in our modern world. This year will be the first official celebration of the initiative, and the International Ceramic Federation is overseeing the global coordination of this event.

We invite industry partners, academic institutions, and the public to participate in planning and celebrating this important initiative. Together we can show the world the importance of ceramic science and engineering.

Best wishes,

Lisa McDonald
Editor, ACerS Bulletin

Letters are columns featuring thoughts and opinions by ACerS members.