What’s a few singed fingers when you’re having fun?

That’s the positive attitude shared by the 11 students in Aniceto DeCastro’s “Chemistry 210: Scientific Glassblowing” course offered this fall. There are no midterms or final examinations, just some practical skill-building in a relaxed, congenial atmosphere. At least, as relaxed as you can be working with liquid glass.

The students, most of them chemistry or biochemistry majors, earn one unit of credit as they learn how to bend tubes and blow globes. Such skills are necessary when repairing laboratory glassware, which can be awfully expensive when broken.

“A lot of people learn their glassblowing skills just by practicing in the lab,” said Jill Nakawatase, a fourth-year chemistry major. “But getting so much exposure like this makes me less afraid of turning the oxygen on and cranking it up.”

Wearing protective didymium glasses, the students enthusiastically dive into their work. The countertops are covered with glass pieces — some repaired, some not. “I think we pretty much destroy what we try to repair,” Nakawatase admitted. “But it’s good practice.”

“As much as possible, I try to make the training fun,” explained DeCastro, an associate development engineer and professionally trained glassblower who was approached two years ago by Richard Kaner, vice chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, to teach the course. “I have them create things they will enjoy. To me, everybody is an artist.”

Beyond the functional lab vessels, students try their hand and breath at making glass birds, bears and flowers. Anything the students make, they can take home.

For third-year biochemistry student Khanh Ngo, the class was a perfect blend of art and science. “I enjoy art a lot, but I just don’t have time to take art classes because of my major,” she said. “I’ve been telling all my friends, ‘You have to take this class!’ ”