| Abstract Scope |
Interdisciplinary undergraduate teaching has a long tradition at Alfred University, with one favorite class being GlassArtEngine, where students from Art and Engineering work together on glass projects, ranging from developing new colors to stronger glasses, to the use of only natural materials or fusing glasses to other materials. During the spring semester 2022, we also offered an interdisciplinary elective on Natural Glasses for students from Engineering, Art, Science, and Geology. With help from a TA and faculty, students were able to determine the transition temperature of glasses and confirm the amorphous nature of samples, e.g. obsidians, the skeleton of a deep-sea sponge, lightning (fulgurites) or impact (tektite) glasses, even amber. Elemental and structural analysis (IR, Raman) was complemented by a deep dive into the literature. Some students even chose to remelt their own glasses, e.g. space glass with a composition found on Mars. Both classes conclude with a final exhibition |