2025 Symposium Committee Chairs
Seminars Chair
Lauren Aria (630)a940-9267a
Technical Demonstrations Chairs
Chris Hurley (541)a324-2456a
Randall Strait (817)a988-1103a
Technical Papers Chair
Jeff Babbitt (259)a979-2807a
Technical Posters Chair
Chandra Lamberth (803)a646-3305a
Companion Program Chair
Kelly Hall (919)a622-4708a
Seminar Presenters
Kevin Teaford
J. Allan Alexander Regular Member Seminar
Chris Bock
Joseph S. Gregar Junior Seminar
Erich Moraine
Erich Moraine is a 1979 graduate of Salem Community college. He has worked both as a production and research glassblower at a series of glass positions including WA Sales, Aldrich Chemical, U of Nebraska, R.J. Brunfeld, and now self-employed as Wild Rose Glass where he provides scientific glassware design, consult, fabrication and repair services. Erich has been active in the ASGS since 1980 having recently stepped into the President elect position of the national board. He remains active in the scientific glass community offering workshops seminars and demos at regional section meetings as well as national symposia. He’s the father of three adult daughters and has a small shop next to his country farmhouse lives in southeastern Wisconsin.
Communication Skills for Glassblowers.
Your technical skills may get you the interview, but your interpersonal “soft skills” will get you hired or fired as well as land that big customer. Let’s talk and share experiences about how relational skill building is essential for success as a scientific glassblower in industry, research, or for the self-employed.
Lenorah Haight-Stott
Introduction to Glass Chemistry
Participants will be introduced to principles of glass chemistry including the behavior of different glass networks such as silicates, borates, and phosphates; phenomena that allow scientists to hone glass properties; and processes used to produce and shape more exotic glass compositions. The sources of color in glasses will also be discussed.
Julia ‘JuJu Glass’ Straight
Dotstack and Opal Encasing with JuJu
Synthetic opal encasement and dotstack demonstration. Combining the two techniques to make dotstack pendant with opal inclusion.
Lauren Aria (she/her)
is a scientific glassblower and artist based in Madison, WI. She currently works in the UW-Madison Chemistry Glass Shop, designing and fabricating custom glassware for all departments on campus. Her art practice investigates the complex material boundaries of the body in an innovative and synthetic world.
Lauren received her BFA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2022 with material focuses in glass, neon, and video. Upon graduation, she received the prestigious Windgate – Lamar Fellowship Award from the Center for Craft in Asheville, NC. Lauren has been a resident artist at Salem Art Works in Salem, New York, and has shown her work at venues including the Chazen Museum of Art, the Pittsburgh Glass Center, and the Shanghai Museum of Glass.
Professional Writing
Writing is an essential tool to communicate ideas and information to others. With effective writing, one can publish important research in journals, receive grant awards, and have clear communication with collaborators/customers. This seminar will provide you with organizational methods to compose your writing, then cover grammar and revision tools to consolidate professional writing and publications. If you have writing you are already working on (grants, presentations, personal bios, Fusion journal articles, etc.), please bring them with you for editing and reviewing.
Victor Nunn
is a scientific glassblower and artist based in Madison, WI. She currently works in the UW-Madison Chemistry Glass Shop, designing and fabricating custom glassware for all departments on campus. Her art practice investigates the complex material boundaries of the body in an innovative and synthetic world.
Lauren received her BFA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2022 with material focuses in glass, neon, and video. Upon graduation, she received the prestigious Windgate – Lamar Fellowship Award from the Center for Craft in Asheville, NC. Lauren has been a resident artist at Salem Art Works in Salem, New York, and has shown her work at venues including the Chazen Museum of Art, the Pittsburgh Glass Center, and the Shanghai Museum of Glass.
An Introduction to Kovar Sealing
Precision metal preparation techniques for optimal sealing performance, glass compatibility considerations for a successful seal, sealing techniques using Litton lathes, hands-on practice to reinforce learning.
In this hands-on training session, Vic will help participants learn the art of sealing Kovar metal to glass using Litton lathes. This comprehensive introduction will cover the essential skills and techniques required to successfully make Kovar seals.
Danielle James (DJ) of Hex Neon
Expert in a Dying Field
Join neon bender and historian Danielle James (DJ) from Hex Neon (Durham, NC) as she delves deeply into the fascinating history of the neon bending industry. Unearthing the often-overlooked ups and downs of neon’s remarkable 115-year journey, she tackles thought-provoking questions such as: Who truly deserves the title of the “granddaddy” of neon? How did the tumultuous events of WW2 shape the vibrant explosion of neon in America? Were women really prohibited from working with neon? And how can you play a part in saving this mesmerizing art from fading away? All of this unfolds while she demonstrates the intricate patterning, bending, and “bombarding” of a clear neon skull. This seminar is to DIE for, don’t miss it.
Jared Haworth
Overview of Neon Bending and Processing at Lightship Neon
Take a field trip to Lightship Neon in Raleigh to learn more about the history, art and science of neon sign-making. This seminar includes a tour of our workshop and demonstrations of glass tube bending and neon sign processing. Participants will have an opportunity to get hands-on in our bending torches and create their own illuminated souvenirs that will be shipped to you after being processed.
Kelly Hall
(Companion Program) Painting with a Drink
Enjoy a painting tutorial while partaking in some beverages. This is a fun no pressure way to mingle with old and new friends. This is open to all members, non-members, guests and companions
Kelly Hall
(Companion Program) Self-Guided Museum Tour
Kelly HallHave a day away from the hustle and bustle of the symposium with a trip to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and The North Carolina Museum of History. A shuttle will whisk you away from the hotel and bring you back with a bag lunch provided. This is open to all members, non-members, guests and companions
North Carolina Fire Department Members
(Companion Program) Fire Extinguisher Training
Learn how to use a fire extinguisher by putting out a small fire. This is a hands-on affair with real fire, real fire extinguishers, and real firemen! This is open to all members, non-members, guests and companions. Space is limited, however spectators are welcome.
Demonstrators
Chandra Lamberth
is a 3rd generation scientific glassblower who fell in love with glassblowing after attending many ASGS events during her childhood. She is an alumna of Salem Community College and considers herself lucky to have been able to work with multiple amazing glassblowers throughout her carrier. She is currently the head of the Savannah River National Laboratory’s glass shop.
No Blow Duran Flange Seals
This demo will show how to attach different fittings to a Duran flange kettle top without being able to blow into it. Will show techniques and tips for sealing a large, medium and small fitting onto a blank kettle top
Celeste Tsang
Is a glassblower and multimedia artist from New Jersey. She graduated in 2018 with a BFA in sculpture from Pratt Institute. Celeste was introduced to glass through Pratt Institute and UrbanGlass’ partnership class which introduced her to kiln casting, cold working, flame working and furnace work. She fell in love with the unique material and following her undergrad, Celeste continued to work at UrbanGlass in Brooklyn, NY, as a technician, TA, and instructor. In 2022 Celeste enrolled in Salem Community College to pursue a degree in Scientific Glass Technology. She worked at H.S. Martin, A.G.I North America, as a scientific glassblower concurrently with her last year at SCC. She currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Glass to Metal: Tungsten Through Seal
Tungsten to boro basics using uranium glass as a grading glass.
Erich Moraine
is a 1979 graduate of Salem Community college. He has worked both as a production and research glassblower at a series of glass positions including WA Sales, Aldrich Chemical, U of Nebraska, R.J. Brunfeld, and now self-employed as Wild Rose Glass where he provides scientific glassware design, consult, fabrication and repair services. Erich has been active in the ASGS since 1980 always within the Midwest Section. He will be voted on as ASGS President in 2025. He remains active in the scientific glass community offering workshops seminars and demos at section meetings as well as national symposia. He’s the father of three adult daughters and has a small shop next to his country farmhouse in southeastern Wisconsin.
A Souza style pressdown ring seal and a dewar style ring seal
These two ways of forming rings seals are particularly nice for larger diameter or thicker wall weights.
Kyle Meyer
is a scientific and artistic glassblower originally from Wisconsin. He started his career in Scientific Glassblowing after attending SCC under the instruction of Daryl Smith. Kyle then went on to work for Sigma-Aldrich for 13 years. He then worked at the University of Georgia as Glass Shop Manager for four years. Currently, he is continuing his career at Procter and Gamble in Ohio as a Glassblowing Research Specialist (since 2020). All throughout his professional career, Kyle has dedicated his spare time to doing collaboration work with fellow flameworking artists. Additionally, he creates artistic glass that he commissions to galleries throughout the country.
Water jet to flange
Elijah Aller
first learned to make goblets in 1996 in a class with Bhandu Dunham. Since then he has made them a staple of his work. Although he now works as a scientific glassblower, he still produces wine glasses in his spare time.
Goblet Demo
Technical Paper Presenters
Dr. Cory Trivelpiece
is a principal engineer at the Savannah River National Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering in 2010 from the Pennsylvania State University. He is currently in the Glass, Cement, and Ceramics Science group at SRNL where his research focuses on sustainable glass materials research and nuclear waste disposition.
Why Glass? An overview of nuclear waste vitrification
The only operating high-level waste (HLW) glass melter operating in the United States today is located at the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) at the Savannah River Site (SRS). There are currently 35 million gallons of nuclear waste containing 249 MCi of radioactivity stored in underground tanks at SRS. The waste is composed of by-products from the processing of nuclear materials for national defense, research, medical programs, and outer space missions. Today, scientists and engineers from the Savannah River National Laboratory are putting science to work by developing and maintaining methods to permanently dispose of this legacy material while protecting the nation’s security and environment. This talk will explore HLW generation, processing waste into a vitrified waste form (glass), and issues surrounding the long-term disposal of HLW glass. The question of why glass was chosen as the nation’s preferred material for high level nuclear waste encapsulation will be answered. In addition, the science of glass corrosion will be discussed as it pertains to the long-term storage of nuclear waste over centuries to millennia.
Doni Hatz
has been a member of the ASGS since 1986 even though her interest in glassblowing started in 1982. The ASGS has been a part of her entire career and she has held numerous positions. She was Secretary (1986-1990), and later Director-elect 1990-92), for the Metro New York section. After moving to Cincinnati she became involved in the Ohio Valley Section and later became Director (1993-1999). After several years she was elected to President-elect in 1999, completing the Presidential role in 2001 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was Award’s Committee chair for five years, Art for Charity Auction Chair (2019, 2022, 2023) and now National Secretary for the Board of the Directors (2022-2025). She has contributed over 10 technical posters, several papers and technical demonstrations supporting the need to share knowledge of scientific glassblowing.
She overlaps with activities in the Glass Art Society and the International Society of Glass Beadmakers presenting several flamework demonstrations at their national events. She has taught at several institutions such as Corning at The Studio, Salem Community College, NJ, Carlisle Machine Works, NJ, International Society of Glass Bead Makers, KY, World of Beads in Cincinnati, University of Michigan at Dearborn and Purdue University to name a few places.
Doni Hatz will reflect upon her career in scientific glassblowing. She studied under Joseph Luisi at Salem Community College 1983-1985. Job opportunities took her to New York working at Union Carbide Corporation in Tarrytown. Then a few years later the State University of New York at Stony Brook pulled her away to Long Island. After several years attending the ASGS conferences she met so many talented glassblowers in the US. From there a new opportunity arose to backfill a position at The Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio where she retired after 32 years of service in August 2024.
James Hodgson
graduated from Kansas State University in 1982 with a BS degree in Geophysics. Jim was employed in the oil exploration business with Kerr-McGee Oil Company and Western Geophysical. He then received an Associate Degree in Scientific Glassblowing from Salem Community College. He has been employed as the scientific glassblower at Kansas State University for more than 25 years. Jim has served as the ASGS National Treasurer, ASGS National President and is currently chair of the Publications Committee.
Understanding Regulators
A basic understanding of gas regulators is helpful when choosing the correct regulator for your application. The regulator for a single torch may not be the same regulator you need to supply multiple stations. Single stage vs two stage, material compatibility, cV, reading a flow curve and other regulator characteristics will be discussed to help you make an informed choice when purchasing a regulator.
Patrick DeFlorio
is the son of William Joseph DeFlorio a charter member of the Northeast Section. He was lucky enough to be allowed a 2 year post graduate program at Minuteman Regional Vocational School in Lexington, MA1979,80. His performance was so changed from a rather unremarkable academic experience at Concord Carlisle that William went to verify his first report card. Machine tools of all sizes and a foundry that Patrick operated the first time at school. What a great opportunity! The next step was an associate degree from Wentworth Institute in Boston for Manufacturing. Learning drafting along with the necessary mathematics. Patrick joined his father at Yankee Glassblower until William’s death in 2008. Patrick has continued the business where he has become well known in the glassblowing industry for making creative fixtures.
Patrick has been Northeast Section Secretary, alternate Director, Director and ASGS president. His articles can be found in fusion and proceedings. Presently he is the Northeast Secretary and Chair of the Audit Committee.
Brazing and silver soldering in the Glass Shop
This paper covers brazing and silver soldering materials found in the glass shop including Brass, Copper & Stainless Steel. Examples of fixtures using these techniques have been very handy.
Daryl Smith
After earning a bachelors degree from Texas A&M University, Daryl attended Salem Community College in 1986. He completed his apprenticeship in 1989 and worked in various glass facilities both large and small, then as the Instructor at Salem Community College from 2000-2005.
Daryl began at Yale University in 2005. Aside from serving the research community, Daryl has created and developed a glassblowing course.
Daryl has served as Chair and Director of the Delaware Valley Section, Director of the Northeast Section, and currently serves as Alternate Chair of the Northeast Section.
Development of Novel Radiotracers using Rectangular Glass Vessels.
This paper highlights the problem solving steps taken to create a unique vessel to satisfy the needs to develop tissues on microscope slides for Novel Radiotracing. A trial and error approach was taken to eventually achieve a positive outcome.
Sally Prasch
Helped organize ASGS symposiums in Albany, Princeton’s and Corning’s. Has been exhibit chair, multiple positions in the Hudson Mohawk Valley, Boston and Northeast sections. Has presented papers, posters, seminars and workshops for the ASGS symposiums. Created three symposium websites and five pamphlets intended to be fillable for following symposiums. Received ASGS Helmut E. Drechsel Achievement Award and Award of Excellence from Salem Community College. Teaches worldwide.
Tips for University Glassblowing Labs and Nonprofits
This PowerPoint presentation will cover some helpful hints to run a successful glassblowing lab and or a nonprofit. We will touch on many items including financial reporting and customer satisfaction. There will be time for sharing ideas and questions at the end of the presentation.
Technical Poster Presenters
Tracy Drier
began his career as a paper engineer, but glassblowing was always his first love. Tracy enrolled in the scientific glassblowing program at Salem Community College and the following year took a position with Aldrich Chemical Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At Aldrich Tracy produced a wide a variety of catalog items as well as performing repairs and designing new prototypes. Tracy moved to Madison, WI in the fall of 2000 where he is currently the research glassblower for the University of Wisconsin Chemistry Department.
Disassemble, Clean, Re-Assemble and Precision Align Your Litton Lathe Scroll Chucks
Build Your Own Hole Gauge
Lauren Aria (she/they)
is a scientific glassblower and artist based in Madison, WI. She currently works in the UW-Madison Chemistry Glass Shop, designing and fabricating custom glassware for all departments on campus. Her art practice investigates the complex material boundaries of the body in an innovative and synthetic world.
Lauren received her BFA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2022 with material focuses in glass, neon, and video. Upon graduation, she received the prestigious Windgate – Lamar Fellowship Award from the Center for Craft in Asheville, NC. Lauren has been a resident artist at Salem Art Works in Salem, New York, and has shown her work at venues including the Chazen Museum of Art, the Pittsburgh Glass Center, and the Shanghai Museum of Glass.
Disassemble, Clean, Re-Assemble and Precision Align Your Litton Lathe Scroll Chucks
Build Your Own Hole Gauge
Chandra Lamberth
is a 3rd generation scientific glassblower who fell in love with glassblowing after attending many ASGS events during her childhood. She is an alumna of Salem Community College and considers herself lucky to have been able to work with multiple amazing glassblowers throughout her carrier. She is currently the head of the Savannah River National Laboratory’s glass shop.
Creating 25ml Water Jacketed Vessel with 5 Ports:
Will show and describe the steps of creating a vessel the requires a low solution amount, a water jacket, a basket for small a amount of material, and many ports to top it off
Ashot Tumaghyan
I’m a third-year chemistry bachelor’s student at the University of Texas at Austin, deeply engaged in both research and hands-on fabrication. Since April 2023, I’ve worked in Dr. Rose’s silicon subgroup as an undergraduate researcher, where I design and synthesize novel PNP ligands and organometallic complexes using Schlenk-line and glovebox techniques. I then characterize my compounds with NMR, mass spectrometry, IR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and electrochemical testing.
In parallel, I work as an assistant/apprentice in UT’s Glass Shop with Adam Kennedy. There, I use Fusion 360 to CAD-design custom scientific equipment, and I fabricate it via additive manufacturing. I practice benchtop and lathe flameworking of soft glass, borosilicate, and quartz. Throughout the years, I have also gained experience in operating lathes, milling machines, drill presses, saws, and grinders to produce tools and parts, helpful in flameworking. Additionally, I help maintain and upgrade the shop’s safety and smooth operation of gas/electrical delivery infrastructure. As part of the “Girl Day” outreach program, I design and build mechanically interactive art installations.
I’m fluent in Armenian and English, with full professional proficiency in Russian. Outside the lab, I like to tinker with CAD and 3d printing projects.
Lauren received her BFA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2022 with material focuses in glass, neon, and video. Upon graduation, she received the prestigious Windgate – Lamar Fellowship Award from the Center for Craft in Asheville, NC. Lauren has been a resident artist at Salem Art Works in Salem, New York, and has shown her work at venues including the Chazen Museum of Art, the Pittsburgh Glass Center, and the Shanghai Museum of Glass.
3D-Printed Adjustable Fixtures for Precision Glass Cutting:
Describes different iterations of fixtures that were made, their ups and downs, and how their mechanism works
Chris Hurley
…
It’s 2025, what’s on your bench?
Features a select group of tools that will benefit the scientific flame worker for years to come.
