Next week, students from the Department of Metallurgical Engineering will head to San Diego to compete in the 2017 Bladesmithing Competition at the annual meeting of The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS) Conference. With a roaring furnace and metal-on-metal hammering, the team forged a Moro-Filipino short sword using millennia-old blacksmithing techniques on the U campus. The Utes will pit their blade against dozens of entries from universities all over the world. Alexander Lark, a graduate student in the Department of Metallurgical Engineering who led the team effort, is available to show off the artwork and discuss the bladesmithing process.

Alexander Lark | graduate student, Department of Metallurgical Engineering | a.lark1989@gmail.com

Lisa Potter | science writer, University Communications | lisa.potter@utah.edu | 949-533-7899