Join us for the STEAM Café this month! March’s STEAM talk, “The Science of Swords, Part II”, will be presented by members of the South Dakota Mines student bladesmithing team.

For the past 10 years, South Dakota Mines students have competed in a yearly international bladesmithing competition with other universities. Mines students Stephen Gebes, Brianna Hoff, Cora Gehrke, and Nathan Staley will discuss combining the art of bladesmithing with the science of heat treating and forging to create their award-winning, pattern-welded Viking sword from spring 2024 that integrated local Black Hills materials. The team members will also present a glimpse at their plans and approach for the next competition.