Glass engineering team creates winners’ medals for 2023 World University Games
When the 2023 FISU World University Games begin in Lake Placid on 12 January 2023, the hard work of Alfred University glass engineering faculty and students will be evidenced every time a medallist climbs the award podium.
FISU (International University Sports Federation) officials reached out to Bill LaCourse, Professor Emeritus of Glass Science with a request: could the world renowned glass engineering programme at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University create glass medals for the World University Games? Prof. LaCourse together with Alexis Clare, Professor of Glass Science, and Charles Bellows, a PhD candidate in Glass Engineering Science have been working to design and manufacture hundreds of circular medals, each approximately two inches in diameter and an eighth of an inch thick.
The result of their efforts is a striking glass disc containing rare earth metals that create colour-changing light emissions when exposed to ultra-violet light. The blue glass turns orange, a colour FISU identifies as symbolizing the flame of the World University Games torch.
Alfred University entered into a partnership with two New York State Glass recycling companies: Hillcrest Companies Inc. and Potters Industries who are supplying the recycled glass Prof. LaCourse’s team is using to manufacture the 800 medals.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called the medal design “beautiful” and complimented Alfred University’s contribution to the 2023 FISU World University Games. “We get to design them as the host,” she said of the medals. “We finalized the medal design and they're designed by incredible individuals, the faculty and students at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.”
LaCourse also notes the project has dovetailed with the United Nations declaration of 2022 as The International Year of Glass. The project exemplifies, he says, the resources of the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, the only educational institution in the U.S. that offers the bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees in Glass Engineering.
Image: A prototype of the FISU glass medal, designed and created at Alfred University.
