An alumnus of IIT Kanpur from the metallurgical department, Professor Veena Sahajwalla, is an Australian material scientist of Indian origin, who launched the world’s first micro-factory. It can transform electronic waste into reusable material. This is a major feat as heaps of e-waste like circuit boards is generated by smartphones and laptops.
Here, alloys like copper and tin, glass and plastic are converted into ceramics and plastic filaments for 3D printing.
Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) at University of New South Wales (UNSW), Veena’s work in the field of sustainable development has won her the distinguished alumnus award, the Eureka Prize (2005), and Pravasi Bhartiya Samman for outstanding achievement in science (2011).
The micro-factory uses technology that reduces electronic waste and stops it from going to landfills.
“Our e-waste (micro-factory) and another under development for other consumer waste types offer a cost-effective solution to one of the greatest environmental challenges of our age while delivering new job opportunities to our cities but importantly to our rural and regional areas, too,” Veena said.
Microfactories are a “truly sustainable solution to our growing waste problem while offering economic benefits available to the local community,” said Veena. This could transform the manufacturing sector, primarily in island markets as transportation there is not cost-effective.
Veena has also been named in the 2015 AFR-Westpac 100 Women of Influence list known for their respective contributions, thus joining Australia’s 400 most inspiring women.
H/T: Yourstory