By Charlotte Brookins 

Benjamin Revis has worked as a scientific glassblower at the University of Iowa for nearly twelve years—providing glass products to researchers and teaching courses. He is also a member of the American Scientific Glassblowers Society (ASGS), an organization founded in 1952 with the goal of supporting scientific glassblowers and distributors across the nation.  

This year, Revis has earned the organization’s prestigious Helmut E. Drechsel Achievement Award, given to members dedicated to promoting the field of scientific glassblowing. 

“I was surprised and humbled to even be nominated,” says Revis on receiving the award. 

In addition to glassblowing professionally for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences' Department of Chemistry, Revis has taught a variety of classes, including advanced methods in chemical research scientific glassblowing fundamentals, where students learn the basics of the craft and how it can be applied to the field. He also has guest lectured other chemistry courses, teaching students how to construct their own test-tubes and bubblers.  

In his role, Revis also repairs and fabricates different materials, assessing points and damage and deciding whether or not a successful restoration is possible. 

“During my time at the University of Iowa, I have continually shared my excitement for scientific glassblowing and its contribution to the sciences through teaching opportunities, public outreach and collaborations, and professional organization involvement,” Revis explains. 

One of the most recent community outreach programs he was involved in was the 2022 Sounds of Water concert performed in collaboration with the UI School of Music, IIHR Hydroscience and Engineering, the School of Art and Art History, and the Department of Chemistry.  

“The pinnacle effort that put my name on the nomination form for this award was the Joint Midwest Meeting of the American Chemical Society and the American Scientific Glassblowers Society,” adds Revis.

That 2022 meeting was the first of its kind where chemists were brought together with scientific glassblowers.  

“The meeting would not have been as successful as it was without the help and support from ACS Midwest Regional Meeting committee Tori Forbes, Renee Cole, Heriberto Hernandez, Scott Shaw, Andrea Van Wyk, and Lucas Claussen. The ASGS Midwest Section Chair Corina Guerra, the department of Chemistry, and CLAS Associate Dean for Research Josh Weiner," Revis explains.