A heating apparatus for a gas chromatography column is described. The GC column heating apparatus includes a conical heater assembly comprising a heating element between an inner layer and an outer layer. The apparatus can also include optionally an outer cowl and/or an inner cowl surrounding the conical heater assembly. The conical heater assembly rapidly increases the temperature of the column by conductive heating. The selection of shape (in particular, the cone angle of a conical heater) and materials allows the GC column to adapt to expansion that occurs upon heating. A gas chromatography (GC) column heating and cooling apparatus is also described, in which the heater and outer cowl define a flowpath through which a cooling fluid can pass and cool the GC column.