Nashville Chemists Gather at Nashville Glasshaüs for Networking Event

February 23, 2026

The Nashville Local Section of the ACS held a networking event at Nashville Glasshaüs on February 7th, 2026.

Twelve people seated on bleachers watching two men in behind a metal fence to separate the audience from a series of ovens and glassblowing eqiupment

Master Paul Nelson and entrepreneur Wyatt Maxwell led the glassblowing demo. A majority of the attendees had performed glass-blowing as a part of their chemistry studies, and a discussion was had on the differences between scientific and art glass blowing. After “gathering” molten glass, Paul began rolling and shaping.

Please notice that both artists are wearing eye protection! The danger from glass shards is too great to compromise on safety.

The next step was to apply the colors. We chose the iconic ACS yellow and blue. You might be wondering what in the glass provides the colors, and its the same as many other applications: metal oxides! We learned that yellow is the hardest color to work with.

Colors made from metal oxides
Cobalt for blue – softest color
Nickel for green
Red for cadmium

Wyatt applies yellow molten glass on top of blown glass with blue already applied.
Wyatt applies yellow molten glass on top of blown glass with blue already applied.
Broken piece cooled down to show the yellow and blue.
Broken piece cooled down to show the yellow and blue.


Blown glass over metal gate, with blue and yellow coloring. A young man with PPE stands in the background
Paul has gathered additional glass and is pouring off the excess!
Paul has gathered additional glass and is pouring off the excess!
Paul is using a paddle to shape the glass into a erlenmeyer flask shape
Paul is using a paddle to shape the glass into a erlenmeyer flask shape

Over the hour, the two artists explained the process as they applied additional glass, uses flames and tools to shape the glass into a flask shape. Once done, the new “flask” needed to head into a 900 F oven to anneal for many days.

Wyatt in protective coat, gloves, goggles, face shield...and shorts.
Wyatt in protective coat, gloves, goggles, face shield…and shorts.
Wyatt catching the blue and yellow flask before Paul breaks it off the pole.
Wyatt preparing to catch the flask before placing it in the 900 F oven to anneal for several days.

After the demo, the attendees gather for a networking lunch and a game of networking bingo. All attendees were entered in a raffle to take home the beautiful new art piece…after it was done annealing in the oven.

Smiling young lady holding a yellow and blue vase
Vanderbilt ACS Student Chapter President Maureen Fieldhouse with her prize from networking bingo.

The event was very successful, and we can’t wait to do something like this again. If you know of other venues/activities which might make for a fun networking event, please share using our Contact Us page!

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