Spring 2003 -- Vol. 56, No. 2

Birth of
Optical Fiber

A drop of glass is pulled out of a furnace at 2200 C (4000 F), starting the transition from large rod to hair-thin fiber. Inset: John Ballato, director of Clemson’s Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies.

Clemson is a leader in the only Southeastern partnership that joins a research university with a coalition of technical schools for work force development in optical technologies — critical in the knowledge-based economic development of South Carolina and beyond.