Scientific glassblowing


Scientific glassblowing is a specialty field of lampworking used in industry, science, art and design used in research and production. Scientific glassblowing has been used in chemical, pharmaceutical, electronic and physics research including Galileo’s thermometer, Thomas Edison’s light bulb, and vacuum tubes used in early radio, TV and computers. More recently, the field has helped advance fiber optics, lasers, atomic and subatomic particle research, advanced communications development and semiconductors. The field combined hand skills using lathes and torches with modern computer assisted furnaces, diamond grinding and lapping machines, lasers and ultra-sonic mills.

Scientific glassblowing schools

Degree programs

in Carney's Point, New Jersey offers an Associate in Applied Science with a focus on the construction of scientific glass apparatus.
Alfred University offers a masters program in glass science and a PhD with a blend of theoretical and applied studies similar to degree programs in materials science and engineering.
There is a Glass Division of Fine Arts at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Universities offering courses

The following is the list of recognized universities that provide courses in scientific glassblowing:
The American Scientific Glassblowers Society is an association for scientific glassblowers and provides continuing education programs. The community is relatively small, with approximately 650 members.