Recreation of Blaschka Invertebrate Models
Presenter: Lauren Aria
This paper investigates the previously overlooked physical recreation of the Blaschka invertebrate models using historically relevant tools and equipment. In June of 2022, glass artist Loren Stump visited the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 3 days to explore variables related to building period appropriate Blaschka invertebrate models. The intention was to create a proof-of-concept construction of Blaschka invertebrate parts and models. Loren was joined by other glass artists in this educational and collaborative project and investigation.
Lauren Aria (she/they) is a glass artist and sculptor currently based in Madison, WI. Her work explores relationships of material codependency between the corporeal and synthetic, violating boundaries between interiority and exteriority of the body. Lauren graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2022, where she received the Windgate – Lamar Fellowship Award from the Center for Craft in Asheville, NC. Currently, she is working as a scientific glassblower under Tracy Drier in the UW Chemistry Department and creating artwork as a special student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Resurrecting A 100 Year Old Glass: Batching a Blaschka Replica Melt Using Data From ICP MS-HR Analysis
Presenter: Aaron Kirchhoff
University of Wisconsin Madison has invested resources to learn more about their Blaschka marine invertebrate collection housed in the Department of Zoology. The scope of their interest included determining the feasibility of producing replica glass stock for experimentation in the flame using percent composition data from Corning's ICP high resolution mass spectroscopy analysis of very small pieces of Blaschka glass as a guide. Kirchhoff utilized this data with minor colorant modifications to produce two glass batches which very closely approximate that of a specific Blaschka glass sample. Three important glass physical properties were determined from this research: working temperature range of the glass in the furnace, relative CTE, and annealing temperature range.
Aaron Kirchhoff is founder and owner of Strong Force Scientific Glass, a glass fabrication business dedicated to fabricating exceptionally unique and specialized glassware for the scientific industry while also providing design and engineering support for customers. SFSG is adapted to function as a supportive collaborator for researchers in the ever-growing breadth of contemporary processes in scientific research. Aaron has a BA from the University of Iowa, an AAS and AFA in Glass from Salem Community College, and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art from Goddard College. In the technical glass field, he has worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and North Dakota State University, before founding SFSG in 2015. He has taught at the University level, and also teaches classes for the general public through the Plains Art Museum.
Fixtures
Presenter: Patrick Joseph DeFlorio
This paper will go over different types of fixtures used in scientific glassmaking and will include a few videos.
Patrick DeFlorio was lucky enough to be allowed independent study at Minuteman Vocational High School for 2 years. What a time! Opening the dormant foundry making sand castings and operating machine tools. The next two years at Wentworth Institute receiving a Associates Degree in Manufacturing. Summers casting Uranium for armaments or rebuilding machinery used to make paper. After graduating Wentworth Patrick joined his father William DeFlorio at Yankee Glassblower. They worked as a team designing fixtures to make thousands of glass to metal seals and other specialty glassware. Bill worked until days of his passing at 83, willing to learn something new and be able to contribute. Patrick continues the business with a small machine shop still supporting the glass work. He enjoys refining a process through new techniques and fixtures.
ASGS activities Patrick has been the Northeast Section Secretary and Director as well as President of the Society. He has written papers on glassblowing glasses, hazards of HF, fabrication Platinum Conductivity Cells among others. Demonstrations have included Kovar to glass sealing, precision drawing glass under vacuum, platinum seals, repairing a reactor head and glass to Sapphire seal.
Patrick and his wife Lorraine have 3 children that have attended meetings and symposiums. All have benefitted from the ASGS. Daughter Emily edited written works before publication in Fusion. She now is a high School English Teacher. Daughter Barbara is an Analitical Chemist and son William is finishing up his PHd in Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M. Emily's husband Matt McDonald worked with Patrick for several years before joining MicroSemi.
Borosilicate Glass 96-Well Plate
Presenter: Doni Hatz
A borosilicate glass 96-well plate, commonly used for chromatography high throughput screening cell culture and DNA extraction is made for a researcher. These plates are usually made of plastic that can react with certain chemicals that can distort or react with the surface. Doni will share key learnings from the Tracy Drier method with a few new tips that worked with this project.
Doni Hatz has a degree in Scientific Glass Technology from SCC. Her first job opportunity was with AA Pesce Co in Pennsylvania during college, then a full-time job at Union Carbide Corporation, NY. A few years later moved to State University of NY at Stony Brook working with Rudy Schlott. She is presently at Procter & Gamble Company in Cincinnati, Ohio for last 31 years. She has been active in the ASGS holding many positions. While she makes reactors during the day she creates floral and Venetian inspired glassware in her own time.
Teaching Scientific Glassblowing to the Non - Scientific Glassblower
Presenter: Sally Prasch
Sharing the knowledge of scientific glassblowing helps people in many other fields. In this presentation I will go over a few methods of teaching scientific glassblowing, show examples of projects and ways of working glass safely in the labs and studios.
Sally Prasch started in 1970 working glass with Lloyd Moore. She holds a BFA from the University of Kansas, Scientific Glass Technology and Applied Science from Salem Community College. Served for the ASGS regional and national starting in 1983; put together 5 program booklets and three ASGS symposium websites. Taught glass at Pilchuck Glass School -WA, Niijima Glass Center - Japan, Klenell's Studio - Sweden, Karma Glass - Turkey, Urban Glass - NY, Penland School of Crafts - NC, University of Massachusetts and many more. Presently the scientific glassblower at Umass/Amherst, UVM and Prasch Glass. Learn more about Sally here About-Sally
Sustaining Scientific Glassblowing: What are we doing to change the future?
Presenter: Benjamin Revis
A quick look at the perceived trend of Scientific Glassblowing from a hypothetical external evaluation of prospective perceptions. This presentation will discuss the Need, the Trend and the End. Evoking the question: What can we do to change the view?
Benjamin Revis has been the glassblower at the University of Iowa Department of Chemistry since 2011. Benjamin has been actively involved with the ASGS through various Symposium paper presentations, posters, and demonstrations. He has actively served as Midwest Section Director, IT Chair, and is a past President of the National ASGS. Benjamin has a B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Purdue University and has held roles of Senior Reactor Operator; Radiation Detection and Measurement Laboratory Instructor; and Nuclear Electronics Technician. Benjamin learned the introductory skills of Scientific Glassblowing under the tutoring of John Pirolo (Purdue University) during a two year on the job training opportunity.
Economizing on Oxygen Usage via Cloud-Enabled, Mass Flow Monitoring
Pesenter: Dennis Kornbluh
This paper explains the benefits of maintaining a historical record of minute-to-minute oxygen flow rates. It shows how time-series graphs reveal oxygen consumption patterns, and how these patterns may be correlated with specific activities and events. It explains how a summary of total oxygen usage by week or by month can help to reconcile gas company bills, or plan for the implementation of a new oxygen solution, such as transitioning from compressed cylinders to liquid oxygen, or from delivered tanks to an oxygen generator. Multiple scenarios are described that illustrate practical applications.
Dennis Kornbluh is a Seattle-based inventor, software architect, development manager, and agile-methods expert. With more than forty years of experience developing large-scale software systems, he has worked in roles that include System Engineer at Avaya Labs, Director of Software Development at an organ transplant tracking software company, Chief Architect at Cendant Corporation, and Senior Technical Program Manager at Amazon.
Kornbluh is the Chief Technology Officer of High Volume Oxygen (HVO), where he built the Seeing EyeTMCloud Monitoring and Notification Service, an Internet-of-Things platform that collects and acts on data produced by sensors in HVO oxygen-generating systems and other products. He also developed products for Dissolved Oxygen Process Control and Mass Flow Sensing of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Kornbluh is the inventor on three telecommunications-related US patents.
Erich Moraine / Co - Chair
Erich Moraine is a 1979 graduate of Salem Community College. He has worked both as a production and research glassblwer at a series of glass positions including WA Sales, Aldrich Chemical, University of Nebraska, R.J. Brunfeld, and now self-employed as Wild Rose Glass where he provides scientific glassware design, cunsulti, fabrication and repair services. Erich has been active in the ASGS since 1980 having recently stepped down as chair of teh Midwest Section. He remains active in the scientific glass community offering workshops, seminars and demonstrations at regional section meetings as well as national symposia. He is the father of tree amazing adult daughters and has a small shop next to his country farmhouse in southeastern Wisconsin.
Annalee Pickett / Co - Chair
Annalee Pickett is the Glass Shop Manager at the University of Georgia. Degree in Scientific Glassblowing and an associate degree in Applied Science, Annalee was hired in Colorado to begin her career as a Scientific Glassblower. After ten years of commercial glass, Annalee accepted the offer to work at UGA to provide services for the education sector. Annalee is a Regular contributing member of the American Scientific Glassblower’s Society and served as Director of the Rocky Mountain Section. She supports and values the ASGS as a living connection to the tradition of glassblowers passing on information, as well as its long-standing commitment to the many people who make up the Society and look to it as a resource in their work.