In 2026 we took a “gap year” and held a virtual symposium instead of in-person. This gave us time to ask questions, find out why folks attend (or not), and explore ways to make participating, more interesting, more exciting. We looked for ways to bring back the folks who’ve stopped attending, and develop programming to interest folks who’ve never attended.

You talked and we’ve listened.
You said: Symposiums are too expensive. It’s the same presenters year after year. The exhibit hall gets smaller every year.
You talked and we’ve listened.

2027 will be a “refresh” of the ASGS Symposium

• You’ll be able to fly into Denver International Airport (DEN). An easy to navigate airport with great connections to everywhere. 
• Two days of the programming will be ala carte. If you can’t attend the entire event participate in just the parts you can.
• We are developing programming specific to the artistic community, taught by bi-cultural scientific glassblowers: folks who are highly skilled in artistic as well as scientific technique. We welcome you regardless of what style or type of work you do. There is much we can learn from each other. Let’s talk about what we share: fire and gravity and glass. The time of separation is over. It’s time to make and meet new friends.
• If money is tight, there will be multiple work exchange opportunities. Help us out with some volunteer time during the symposium, and we’ll help you out by making it more affordable to attend.
• We’re planning two field trips to provide “behind the scene’s tours” of places you might not get to see on your own.

• We’ve got a schedule that includes over 50 hours of live hands on glass:

  • The traditional Allan Brown workshop for experienced scientific glassblowers to build a complex scientific project under supervision.
  • The traditional Joseph Gregar workshop for intermediate skilled scientific glassblowers to develop better technique.
  • First time offering: An Introduction to Scientific glassblowing for those who’ve never lit a torch. 
  • We are expanding the live glassblowing demonstrations into a full day event with 3 demos happening simultaneously all day long. 
  • Many demos will be followed by mini hands on workshops: now that you’ve seen it done, give it a try yourself.
  • Open Flame / Artistic demo time has been doubled giving you and your friends a lot more time to have fun.
  • Multiple contests to challenge your glass skills.
• More time to connect and network with a pre-event welcoming mixer Sunday night as well as affinity group networking breakfasts every morning. 
• We’ll be using an event app to keep you informed and help you connect with others. Hang onto your phone and you will never be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Oh and by the way the app is available in 20 languages so … Kon’nichiwa, Guten Tag, Buon Giorno, Dzień dobry We are glad you are here. Glass is the international language that unites us all.
  We’re kicking off a mentor program to connect senior established scientific glassblowers with 1st or 2nd time attendees. This will help to break the ice and get you introduced to lots of new faces so you feel more at home faster than ever.
• We have already started a major marketing program to bring on board new vendors, exhibitors, and sponsors. We are excited to announce the first sponsor of the 2027 symposium:  High Volume Oxygen HVO will be providing all our oxygen needs during the live glassblowing events. We are thrilled to have them onboard. Talk to one of their reps about your oxygen needs.