Venture into the basement of one of MIT’s legendary structures, and you’ll observe students hammering on anvils and shaping fiery metal into blades. This practical demonstration in metallurgy is showcased in the film “That Creative Spark,” which earned an Emmy Award in the Education/Schools category at the 48th annual Boston/New England Emmy Awards Event held in Boston in June.
“It’s fantastic to be acknowledged for the endeavors we pursue,” states Clayton Hainsworth, director of MIT Video Productions at MIT Open Learning. “We are fortunate to have remarkable individuals who have chosen to contribute their exceptional skills here to narrate MIT’s tales.”
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Boston/New England Chapter recently recognized Hainsworth, the documentary’s executive producer; Joe McMaster, director/producer; and Wesley Richardson, cinematographer.
“That Creative Spark” highlights a series of 2024 Independent Activities Period (IAP) classes focused on bladesmithing, instructed by Bob Kramer, a globally acclaimed creator of hand-forged knives. In just one week, students acquired the skills to grind, forge, and temper blocks of steel into knives sharp enough to cut through a sheet of paper effortlessly.
“It’s a tremendously physical task to create something from metal,” notes McMaster, senior producer for MIT Video Productions. He remarks that this vivid example of practical learning “embodies the MIT motto of ‘mens et manus’ [‘mind and hand’].”
The IAP Bladesmithing with Bob Kramer course enabled students to observe principles and techniques like conductivity and pattern welding in real time. Abhi Ratna Sharda, a PhD candidate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE), vividly remembers the sensation of metal transforming as he worked on it.
“Those are concepts you can learn about through textbooks and readings, but the real experience of performing them leaves an insight you won’t easily forget,” Sharda explains.
Filming in the forge — the Merton C. Flemings Materials Processing Laboratory — is an experience the MIT Video Productions crew won’t soon forget either. Richardson, the field production videographer at MIT Video Productions, positioned the camera a mere six feet from scalding blades being immersed in oil, resulting in small fireballs and clouds of smoke.
“It’s captivating to witness students’ dexterity as they work with their hands around very hazardous objects in close quarters,” remarks Richardson. “Students were able to create remarkably precise knives by the conclusion of the class.”
Some may be astonished to discover that MIT houses an operational forge, but metalworking has a rich legacy at the Institute. In the film, Yet-Ming Chiang, Kyocera Professor of Ceramics at DMSE, reveals a hint hidden in plain view: “If you examine the MIT emblem, there’s a blacksmith, and ‘mens et manus’ — ‘mind and hand,’” says Chiang, referencing the Institute’s official seal, which was adopted in 1894. “Thus, the education and practice of working with metals have long been integral to our department.”
Chiang invited Kramer to serve as a guest instructor and lecturer for two primary reasons: Kramer is an industry authority, and he found success through practical learning — a vital component of an MIT education. After leaving college to join the circus, Kramer later acquired hands-on experience in hospitality industry kitchens and ultimately became one of just 120 Master Bladesmiths in the United States today.
“This unconventional path of Bob’s motivates students to approach projects and challenges from fresh perspectives,” Hainsworth asserts.
Sharda, for instance, is applying the pattern welding technique he gleaned from Kramer in both his PhD studies and his hobby of jewelry making. The effect yields stunning visuals — ranging from starbursts to swirling patterns resembling agate geodes, and beyond — that permeate the entire steel, not merely the blade’s surface.
“Much of my research focuses on fusing metals and joining dissimilar metals, which is the basis for pattern welding,” Sharda explains, noting how this technique has numerous potential industrial uses. He likens it to the mokume-gane method utilized with precious metals, a process he encountered while investigating solid-state welding techniques.
“Witnessing that executed in an environment where achieving such precision is quite challenging — it motivated me to refine every tiny detail of the pieces I create, ensuring everything is impeccable,” Sharda adds.
In the documentary, Kramer reflects on his month of teaching experience: “When you provide someone with the chance and guide them to create something with their hands, few things are as fulfilling as that.”
In addition to emphasizing MIT’s hands-on teaching style, “That Creative Spark” showcases the richness of its distinctive learning experiences.
“There are numerous facets to MIT concerning what students can access and accomplish,” Richardson states. “There isn’t a singular representation of MIT, as its individuals are exceptionally gifted, highly talented, and often those abilities and talents extend beyond their academic pursuits.”
That sentiment resonates with Chiang, who observes that the class highlights the significance of hands-on, experimental research in higher education.
“What I perceive as a true advantage in experimental research is the tangible comprehension of how objects and forces interrelate,” he explains. “This type of class assists students — especially those who have never had that experience or a job requiring genuine hands-on work — in grasping those connections.”
Hainsworth expresses joy in collaborating with his team to convey narratives about the spirit and generosity of Institute faculty, guest lecturers, and students. The documentary was made possible, in part, due to the generous support of A. Neil Pappalardo ’64 and Jane Pappalardo.
“It genuinely is a pleasure to come in every day and cooperate with individuals who are deeply passionate about their work,” Hainsworth remarks. “And to be honored with an Emmy, that is incredibly gratifying.”
Jason Sparapani contributed to this narrative.