Alfred University Ceramic & Glass Engineering Camp

The Alfred University Ceramic & Glass Engineering camp is for students entering grades 11-12 who wish to learn about this exciting field. Students participate in fascinating hands-on lab experiences in ceramic processing & tape casting and glass melting & press forming, working alongside faculty.

Ceramic Processing and Tape Casting: Ceramic components are at the heart of a vast majority of our everyday items, from cell phones to toilets. At the center of the manufacturing process is ceramic processing - using powders to make usable items. This summer lab exercise will focus on making a ceramic sun-catcher that will be fabricated using tape casting, lamination, and glazing, capturing aspects of both historical and advanced ceramic materials and processing techniques. We will discuss the chemistry involved, the reactions that occur at both room temperature and at high temperature, and how these processes affect the properties (light transmission, strength, etc.) of the ceramic component.

Glass Melting and Press Forming: Glass is everywhere in our daily lives, from the screen on your cell phone and LCD television, to windows, bottles, and fiber optic cables. Unlike other ceramics and materials, glass is not a solid, but a super-cooled liquid. How glass is made, however, is an exciting and visually spectacular event, where raw materials (sand, limestone, and soda ash) are blended and melted at high temperature to form a viscous liquid that can be cast and shaped into objects. This lab exercise will discuss how chemistry affects glass properties and color, making glass, and stress in glass due to cooling. In addition, each student will cast a glass piece to take home!

In the evenings, students have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities including indoor and outdoor games, movies, visits to a lake for picnics and campfires, hikes, social gatherings at the coffee house, a farewell party on the last night, and more. When students are not in class, they are supervised by our wonderful team of Resident Assistants who serve as camp counselors, mentors, positive role models and friends. Housing is provided in secure university residence halls dedicated to summer campers. Cafeteria-style meals are served in the campus dining hall. The $895 fee covers tuition, supervision, materials, room and board from dinner on the first day through lunch on the last day, and recreational activities.

Alfred University is located in the peaceful village of Alfred in rural western New York State, where summer days are warm and nights are cool and comfortable. Surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful meadows and valleys, this is the perfect place to spend an enjoyable week learning and meeting other students who share your interests. Please visit our website for further information and an application form. With our dynamic, engaging, talented and caring faculty and staff; terrific facilities; and lovely surroundings, the AU Ceramic & Glass Engineering Camp could make this your best summer ever!