William LaCourse, retired glass science professor, to deliver Alfred University’s Scholes Lecture

ALFRED, NY – William LaCourse, retired professor of glass science, will deliver the annual Scholes Lecture at Alfred University on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 11:20 a.m. in Nevins Theater, Powell Campus Center.

The lecture, titled “If Chemically Strengthened Glass Is So Great…,” is being presented as part of Alfred University’s Glass Sustainability Conference being held on campus Thursday and Friday, Sept. 8 and 9.

“Ultra-high strength chemically strengthened glass was developed more than 60 years ago, but until recently the primary use was in generating scientific publications, and MS/PhD theses,” LaCourse writes in his lecture abstract. His presentation will address challenges in the production of chemically strengthened glass.

“The presentation covers the above issues and proposes a path forward for a broader range of glass fiber, glass container and flat glass compositions with improved manufacturing efficiency and product performance.”

LaCourse retired from Alfred University in 2021 after a 51-year career teaching glass science and is known for his contributions to making the University’s Glass Engineering Science program one of the most well-known and successful in the United States and around the world.

He came to Alfred University in 1970, recruited by L. David Pye ’59, ’68 PhD, then chair of the Department of Glass Science, and played an instrumental role in the resurgence in the glass program at Alfred. Today, the Glass Engineering Science program in Alfred University’s Inamori School of Engineering is renowned worldwide and is the only such program in the United States to offer a doctoral degree in glass science.

LaCourse is a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society. He is a past winner of the ACerS Glass Division Morey Award for Research on Glass as well as the SUNY Award for Research.

The Scholes Lecture Series was established in 1982 by alumni of Alfred University to honor the late Samuel R. Scholes, who in 1932 established the first glass science program in the United States at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. He served as dean, associate dean, head of the Department of Glass Technology, and professor of glass science.