American Scientific Glassblowers Annual Symposium

2026 Virtual Symposium Registration at the bottom of the page

Don’t miss out – early bird pricing ends June 1!

The Art Auction is ready for donations of your original art, supplies, equipment, and materials. Click here for how to donate.

This year: no plane tickets, hotel rooms or expensive time off work. 

Wed June 17th through Friday June 19th are evening programs so everyone can participate without the need to take time off work.

Tentative schedule is:

Wed June 17th 7-9:30 East Coast time SEMINARS

  • Kyle Meyer (Proctor and Gamble) demonstrating how to build a double coil distillation head as an example of an Allan Brown Regular member workshop piece followed by Q&A
  • Dr. Illia Guzi (UW Madison) presents on darkfield photography of transparent glassware followed by Q&A
  • Chris Bock (Seacube Glass)  discusses the history of the Joe Gregar Junior Member workshop and demos some bending techniques followed by Q&A
  • Jordan Smith (NTNU)  Offers a tour of the glass shop at Norwegian University of Science and Technology followed by Q&A
  • Tsuyoshi Nakamura (Nakamura Rika)  Demonstrates how to weld together a glass box using boro plate followed by Q&A
  • Formal programming is followed by break out rooms to meet sponsors, talk with presenters or participate in Glass Happy Hour: grab a beverage of your choosing and meet other glassblowers. Share your favorite project, discuss tips and techniques, discuss tools and torches, meet a sponsor 

Thu June 18th 7-9:30 East Coast time TECHNICAL PAPERS AND SHOP TOURS

  • Tracy Dryer (UW Madison) presents the construction of a Cabezon Distillation column: a reconceptualization of the Oldershaw distillation column w. Q&A 
  • Aaron Kirchhoff (Strong Force Scientific) Convert a soft glass neon electrode to boro using a tungsten to boro seal without grading glass followed by Q&A
  • Kyle Meyer (Procter and Gamble) Demonstrates the construction of TBD followed by Q&A
  • Chris Fertnig (Pope Scientific) will present on Distillation theory and equipment application followed by Q&A
  • Formal programming is followed by break out rooms to meet sponsors, talk with presenters or participate in Glass Happy Hour: grab a beverage of your choosing and meet other glassblowers. Share your favorite project, discuss tips and techniques, discuss tools and torches, meet a sponsor 

Fri June 18th 7-9:30 East Coast time TECHNICAL DEMONSTRATIONS

  • Michael D’Aquisto (MIllipore) provides a Tour of the MIlwaukee Millipore Glass Shop followed by Q&A
  • Dr. Claude Woods (UW Madison) discusses his high vacuum system and Plasma chamber for Astrochemistry research followed by Q&A
  • Randall Strait: Use a glass engraving lathe to create brilliant cut engravings on glass followed by Q&A
  • Harold Lasswell (Glass To Metals LLC) Make an RF sealed 4 pin kovar header using 7052 followed by Q&A
  • TBD Demonstration  by a VDG member 
  • Victor Nunn (Nunn Better Glass) Seal a 4 pin header into a 3/4″ kovar to Conflat assembly followed by Q&A 
  • Formal programming is followed by break out rooms to meet sponsors, talk with presenters or participate in Glass Happy Hour: grab a beverage of your choosing and meet other glassblowers. Share your favorite project, discuss tips and techniques, discuss tools and torches, meet a sponsor 

Sat June 20th

Annual Meeting


1PM East Coast, 12 noon Central, 11AM Rocky Mountain, 10AM Pacific
 

The ASGS Annual meeting for business 
Regardless of you participation in the symposium all ASGS members are strongly encouraged to attend this very important 90 minute meeting. 

  • 12:00  ASGS Board of Directors meeting
  • 1:00 Annual Meeting for Members
  • 2:30 ASGS Awards 
  • 3:00 Special Guest Artist demo by Chris Hurley (Procter and Gamble) Build an enclosed goblet
  • 3:00 Special Guest artist demo by Tim Dryer: Build a Carbonation Wrangler using the hip slide and bench rollers (This scientific beerglass is available for bidding in the Art Auction.
  • 3:30 Special guest artist Ryan Fitt builds a toffolo style goblet on the lathe
  • 4:00 Art Auction Results
  • 4:15 Thank you to everyone plus Invitation to 2027 in person symposium
  • Formal programming is followed by break out rooms to meet sponsors, talk with presenters or participate in Glass Happy Hour: grab a beverage of your choosing and meet other glassblowers. Share your favorite project, discuss tips and techniques, discuss tools and torches, meet a sponsor 

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It’s not too late to add a donation to the 2026 auction for the symposium. Make a piece of art, donate a product, donate a piece of equipment or a tool. The ASGS is looking for contributions.
 
This year the auction is open to the whole world as it’s happening online. Your item will be seen globally. The bidding will be from anyone and everyone. If you’re looking to be seen this is the year to donate. 
 

Here’s how a donation works:

All donations must be legal in all 50 states. New equipment supplies or tools are most welcome. It’s a great way to get your company name out there. If you have used equipment or tools to donate they must be in very good condition.  
Either: Use this link to add a description, photo and estimated value to your item
Or: Send an email to the office Click to reveal with your item description, photo, and estimated value. The photo is VERY important. Do your best to get a really great shot or two of your item. No donations will be accepted without an image. 
 
Carefully pack and mail (including insurance) your donation to:
CJ Reiner
ASGS Auction
2107 11th St
Altoona PA 16601
Your packaging will be reused to send your donation to the winning bidder.
 
The auction is now live check it out here.