Few people realise that ANU is home to one of the nation's dwindling stock of scientific glass blowers - an art form that has highly practical applications.

Deep within the confines of the Research School of Chemistry is the workshop of Paul Siu, one of only about 20 scientific glass blowers left in Australia.

Paul primarily makes glass instruments for the School of Chemistry, but also develops electro-optic systems for other areas of the University, as well as projects for other universities and external companies.

His instruments are variously made from borosilicate glass (most commonly pyrex), quartz, aluminosilicate glass and soft glass as these have a much higher melting point than artistic glass and are therefore more heat resistant. The glass is manipulated by hand with a bench burner, fuelled by LPG gas and oxygen.

Paul said the skill of scientific glassblowers is disappearing. “Unfortunately not everyone can take up the work of scientific glassblowing. You have to have a science background, since instruments are created to exact specifications.”

His workload is full but he has no time to train an apprentice. “There is no course on offer that teaches scientific glassblowing in Australia,” Paul said. “It is a trade that is handed down by an experienced glassblower to an apprentice.”

Paul was approached to take up the art while he was an ANU chemistry student several years ago. He was trained by the University’s previous glassblower Hans Adler and took it over as a career on Hans’ retirement.

Paul has been recognised for his work by the Scientific Glassblowing Society of Australia and New Zealand for his creation of a two-stage mercury diffusion pump.

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