The next Science Café, “How Glass Changed the World,” is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Stokers Basement, Hotel Donaldson, 101 Broadway in Fargo. Seth Rasmussen, associate professor of chemistry, will host the discussion.

Science Cafés are live events that involve face-to-face conversation with a scientist about current science topics. They are free and open to the community and take place in casual settings like pubs or coffee houses.

Rasmussen, a materials chemist and science historian, will show how everyday lives are dramatically influenced by metals, glass and plastics. To illustrate the tremendous impact that just one new material can have on society, he will discuss the development of glass, focusing on advances in glass technology from 13th century Venice. Glass has had life-changing effects on medicine, the chemical arts and society in general.

The Science Café is sponsored by the College of Science and Mathematics. For more information, contact Keri Drinka at 1-6131 or keri.drinka@ndsu.edu. Attendees must be 21 years old or be accompanied by a parent or guardian.