Title: Ice and gas: observational and laboratory studies in preparation for JWST

Abstract: About a month ago, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) successfully reached its final destination. The data the JWST mission will provide, in tandem with high-sensitivity interferometric observations, will advance our understanding of astrochemistry in star- and planet-forming regions. One example: they will shed light on the interplay between gas, ice and dust, which is crucial for our understanding of the formation of prebiotic molecules. In this talk I will present the results of combining infrared and mm-observations in nearby star-forming regions (Serpens, Lambda Orionis and Corona Australis) to constrain the non-thermal desorption of methanol. I will also introduce recent laboratory experiments tackling one of the long-standing problems of astrochemistry: the non-detection of the 2152 cm-1 band in infrared observational data. In summary, I will discuss the role of interstellar ices towards developing molecular complexity during the star formation process and I will outline the prospects for the upcoming years thanks to JWST and laboratory work.