Jamie Hyneman

Jamie Hyneman is an inventor and robot builder whose career spans special effects, combat robotics, science television and wildfire-response engineering. He earned a Russian language and linguistics degree at Indiana University in 1981, joined Colossal Pictures in the late 1980s and became owner of M5 Industries in the late 1990s. With Adam Savage, he co-hosted MythBusters; he designed and built Blendo and developed Sentry, and universities in Twente and Indiana honored him in 2011 and 2020. He serves as Professor of Practice at LUT University through November 2026 and helps students develop the Ukkonen electric motorcycle.

Now at: Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology
Born: 1956

Years link to their sources.

Timeline

1980s

Russian degree and Colossal Pictures

He graduates from Indiana University Bloomington with a degree in Russian language and linguistics in 1981. After several years as a boat captain and diver in the Caribbean, he returns to the United States in the late 1980s and joins Colossal Pictures, where he produces special effects for more than 800 commercials and feature films.
1995

Blendo at Robot Wars

In 1995, Hyneman designs and builds Blendo, a combat robot, for Robot Wars in San Francisco. Officials deem it too hazardous to continue, and award it co-champion status.
Late 1990s

Owner of M5 Industries

In the late 1990s, he becomes owner of M5 Industries.
2003–2016

MythBusters tests urban legends

From 2003 to 2016, he co-hosts MythBusters with Adam Savage and tests rumors and urban legends through experiments.
2011

A Twente honorary doctorate

In 2011, the University of Twente awards him an honorary doctorate for popularising science.
2018

The Sentry wildfire vehicle

In 2018, he sends Sentry, a wildfire-response vehicle with two 500-gallon tanks, to Anduril's California headquarters for field testing.
2020

The Bicentennial Medal

Indiana University awards him its Bicentennial Medal in 2020 for distinguished and distinctive service.
November 2021–November 2026

Professor of Practice at LUT

In November 2021, he begins a five-year term as Professor of Practice at LUT University, ending in November 2026. In April 2025, he gives a public lecture at Åbo Akademi University. He supports the Ukkonen student electric motorcycle project at LUT with design ideas, material input and connections to expert reviewers.