Thomas Boundy focuses studies on improving recycling operations
(Washington, DC) - The Recycling Research Foundation (RRF), a nonprofit organization closely associated with the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), today announced Thomas Boundy as the recipient of its 2016 National Scholarship. Recognizing the need for affordable graduate education, the scholarship awards $5,000 to an individual seeking a graduate degree in a field that supports the scrap processing and recycling industry as a whole.
“The Recycling Research Foundation is proud to honor Thomas Boundy with this scholarship as he pursues an education that will well-prepare him for a future in the recycling industry,” said ISRI President Robin Wiener. “One of the goals of this scholarship is to generate interest in recycling careers and there is no doubt that with the knowledge he gains from his education, Thomas will be able to make significant long-lasting contributions to the recycling industry.”
Boundy received his B.S. in Chemistry Summa Cum Laude from Pepperdine University in 2013, and is currently pursuing his PhD in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines Kroll Institute for Extractive Metallurgy. His graduate research focuses on developing a flow sheet that would enable the economical recycling of indium (a rare metal critical to solar panel manufacturing) from cell phones, computer monitors, and television screens.
“I am grateful to be awarded the Recycling Research Foundation’s National Graduate Scholarship and for the support it provides for those seeking higher education that I fully expect will improve the nation’s scrap processing capabilities,” said Boundy. “I look forward to further interactions with the Foundation, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and the partnership in converting recyclable material into valuable commodities.”
Following graduation, Boundy hopes to find employment improving upon or developing novel recycling operations/waste management with the hope of better stewarding material resources.
The Recycling Research Foundation’s mission is to promote the art and science of scrap processing and recycling through research, sponsorships, technical assistance, and educational programs for the purpose of advancing the industry. Over the last 10 years, the Foundation has fulfilled this mission in two primary areas; the offering of scholarships to both undergraduate and graduate students, and the funding of research beneficial to the industry. Since 2002, the Foundation has awarded nearly $1 million in scholarships to more than 700 students and has overseen much needed research into the science and technology involved with recycling.
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