Latest news with #SchoolofEngineering
West Australian
5 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Lithium Universe snaps up global rights to PV solar recycling tech
Aspiring mineral producer Lithium Universe has snapped up the global rights to an innovative microwave technology designed by Macquarie University's School of Engineering to simplify the separation and recycling of silicon and valuable metals in solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. The company has entered a binding agreement to acquire the Macquarie-owned New Age Minerals, which holds the exclusive licensing agreement to use and commercialise the new-age technology. The market liked the details of today's reveal. The company came out of a trading halt today, with its share price surging on 76.1 million shares trading hands. The massive volume pushed the company's share price from Friday's close of 0.6 cents to finish the day at 1c for a more than tidy daily gain of 66.67 per cent. The microwave joule heating technology (MJHT) utilises microwave technology to selectively heat silicon cells and soften the plastic used to bind the layers in solar cells. Melting the plastic encapsulant then enables the panels to be easily delaminated and separated into their glass, silicon and metal components at a safe room temperature. The technology can safely preserve valuable materials such as high-purity silicon, silver and critical metals such as gallium and indium for reuse, and prevent dangerous chemicals from being leached from panels dumped into landfill. The high-tech process removes the need for energy-intensive chemical treatment or high-temperature baking, providing a more environmentally friendly recycling process. It minimises the gas emissions that would come from burning the plastic encapsulant and eliminates the toxic chemical waste streams generated from other recycling processes. It is estimated just 15 per cent of waste solar PV cells are recycled worldwide due to the complex recycling procedures involved. Notably, the International Energy Agency anticipates the world will be dealing with an astonishing 60 million tonnes to 78Mt of cumulative solar waste by 2050. Tan said the mass accumulation of solar panel waste in landfills is a growing problem, particularly given the valuable critical metals that are left behind. He said microwave technology offers a promising solution to these challenges, enabling higher recovery rates and more sustainable recycling processes. Lithium Universe believes the technology could also be integrated into existing solar recycling facilities and inexpensively scaled up for mass production. The cost to lock in the technology consists of an upfront payment of $33,900 to the Sydney-based university to reimburse costs associated with registering the technology. Lithium Universe will make an annual $20,000 cash payment within 30 days of each anniversary of the commencement of the licensing agreement, beginning in 2027 until 2042. New Age Materials will pay a 3 per cent royalty on the annual gross sales of products or services using the technology. Agreed milestones, including successful plant commissioning and first production, will incur further payments. Lithium Universe has secured binding commitments to raise $1.7 million via a two-tranche placement to help purchase the private firm and its associated exclusive licence. The company will also spend some of the funds on a definitive feasibility study for its proposed Bécancour Canadian lithium refinery, pay for a capital raising and to cover its working capital needs. Lithium Universe will issue 425M shares at 0.4 cents each to raise the funds, with $200,000 initially targeted for the purchase transaction and accompanying research and development. Tranche one will see the issue of 150M shares to raise $600,000. A second tranche placement should see $1.1M come through the doors from the issue of 275 million shares. Shareholders will need to approve the second placement at a meeting expected to be held in July. In a positive sign for the company, directors Tan, Patrick Scallan and Jingyuan Liu will pitch in a combined $57,000 into the tranche two placement if shareholders approve. Lithium Universe wants to use MJHT to help it extract valuable metals from disused solar PV panels, to particularly target higher recoveries of silver, silicon, gallium and indium. Most of the materials play a vital role in future clean energy needs. The high-tech process could also be used to treat the lithium mineral spodumene at Lithium Universe's proposed Bécancour Canadian lithium refinery. Processing spodumene requires high-temperature processes. MJHT may reduce the heating costs and lower the cost of materials required to build the proposed facility. The company's management includes some noted chemical specialists, with significant experience in the lithium and chemical extraction businesses. Given their collective longstanding history of making chemical extraction technology work, perhaps only a brave man would bet against their latest acquisition. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
NDTV
5 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Indian-Origin Engineer Anantha Chandrakasan Named MIT Provost
New York: Prof Anantha Chandrakasan has been named Massachusetts Institute of Technology's new provost, the first Indian-American to serve in this leadership role. Chennai-born Mr Chandrakasan, who is MIT's chief innovation and strategy officer and Dean of Engineering, will begin his new role on July 1. MIT President Sally Kornbluth, in making the announcement, said that Mr Chandrakasan was chosen from a group of outstanding internal candidates and brings to this post an exceptional record of shaping and leading important innovations for the Institute. The MIT provost is the institute's chief academic and budget officer, with a wide-ranging portfolio that encompasses everything related to faculty, oversight of the educational enterprise and prime responsibility for MIT's strategic planning. In a statement from MIT, Mr Chandrakasan said he is 'deeply honoured" to take on the role of provost. 'Looking ahead, I see myself as a key facilitator, enabling faculty, students, postdocs, and staff to continue making extraordinary contributions to the nation and the world,' he said. Ms Kornbluth noted that Mr Chandrakasan steps into the provost's role at a 'perilous' time for MIT when some of its most basic operating assumptions – including MIT's ability to count on extensive federal support for its mission of research, education and innovation, and to attract and retain superb talent from around the world – are now uncertain. 'In a time of such intense pressure and potentially historic change, I am particularly grateful that we will be able to draw on Anantha's depth and breadth of experience; his nimbleness, entrepreneurial spirit and boundless energy; his remarkable record in raising funds from outside sources for important ideas; and his profound commitment to MIT's mission,' she said. The Consulate General of India in New York congratulated Mr Chandrakasan on his appointment as Provost of MIT, noting that he is the first Indian-American to have achieved this feat. 'A distinguished academic and leader, Prof Chandrakasan has remained a strong advocate of India-USA technological & R&D collaboration; has been working with various Indian government and private sector stakeholders towards this objective. We wish him all success in this important responsibility,' the Consulate said. 'In short, the job truly could not be more central to MIT's present and future vitality,' Ms Kornbluth said. The provost also oversees several affiliated institutes and units and leads a team of vice provosts responsible for the arts; campus space management and planning; faculty; international activities; and Open Learning. Mr Chandrakasan has served as the dean of the School of Engineering since 2017 and as MIT's inaugural chief innovation and strategy officer since 2024. Prior to becoming dean, he headed the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), MIT's largest academic department, for six years. Kornbluth said she had chosen him as MIT's inaugural chief innovation and strategy officer (CISO) because of his 'can-do attitude, creativity, enthusiasm, strategic insight, fluency across a wide range of subject areas, and gift for engaging industry allies and donors.' Mr Chandrakasan succeeds Cynthia Barnhart, who announced her decision to step down from the role in February. As MIT's chief academic officer, Mr Chandrakasan will focus on three overarching priorities: understanding institutional needs and strategic financial planning, attracting and retaining top talent, and supporting cross-cutting research, education, and entrepreneurship programming, the MIT statement said. 'Recognising that each school and other academic units operate within a unique context, I plan to engage deeply with their leaders to understand their challenges and aspirations. This will help me refine and set the priorities for the Office of the Provost,' Mr Chandrakasan said. Mr Chandrakasan also plans to establish a provost faculty advisory group to hear on an ongoing basis from faculty across the five schools and the college, as well as student/postdoc advisory groups and an external provost advisory council, he said adding that his goal is to continue to facilitate excellence at MIT at all levels, it said. 'There is a tremendous opportunity for MIT to be at the centre of the innovations in areas where the United States wants to lead. It's about AI. It's about semiconductors. It's about quantum, biosecurity and biomanufacturing space — but not only that," Mr Chandrakasan said in the MIT statement. "We need students who can do more than just code or design or build. We really need students who understand the human perspective and human insights. This is why collaborations between STEM fields and the humanities, arts and social sciences, such as through the new MIT Human Insights Collaborative, are so important,' Mr Chandrakasan said. Mr Chandrakasan earned his BS, MS, and PhD in electrical engineering and computer sciences from the University of California at Berkeley. After joining the MIT faculty, he was director of the Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL) from 2006 until he became the head of EECS in 2011.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Chennai-Born engineer Prof. Chandrakasan appointed Provost of MIT
Prof. Anantha Chandrakasan has been named Massachusetts Institute of Technology's new provost. The Consulate General of India in New York congratulated Prof. Chandrakasan, noting that he is the first Indian-American to have achieved this feat. Chennai-born Prof. Chandrakasan, who is MIT's chief innovation and strategy officer and Dean of Engineering, will begin his new role on July 1. The MIT provost is the institute's chief academic and budget officer, with a wide-ranging portfolio that encompasses everything related to faculty, oversight of the educational enterprise, and prime responsibility for MIT's strategic planning. In a statement from MIT, Prof. Chandrakasan said he is 'deeply honoured' to take on the role of provost. 'Looking ahead, I see myself as a key facilitator, enabling faculty, students, postdocs, and staff to continue making extraordinary contributions to the nation and the world,' he said. At a 'perilous' time for MIT MIT President Sally Kornbluth, in making the announcement, said that Prof. Chandrakasan was chosen from a group of outstanding internal candidates and brings to this post an exceptional record of shaping and leading important innovations for the Institute. Ms. Kornbluth noted that Prof. Chandrakasan steps into the provost's role at a 'perilous' time for MIT when some of its most basic operating assumptions – including MIT's ability to count on extensive federal support for its mission of research, education and innovation, and to attract and retain superb talent from around the world – are now uncertain. 'In a time of such intense pressure and potentially historic change, I am particularly grateful that we will be able to draw on Anantha's depth and breadth of experience; his nimbleness, entrepreneurial spirit and boundless energy; his remarkable record in raising funds from outside sources for important ideas; and his profound commitment to MIT's mission,' she said. The Consulate General of India said, 'A distinguished academic and leader, Prof. Chandrakasan has remained a strong advocate of India-USA technological and R&D collaboration; has been working with various Indian government and private sector stakeholders towards this objective. We wish him all success in this important responsibility'. Prof. Chandrakasan has served as the dean of the School of Engineering since 2017 and as MIT's inaugural chief innovation and strategy officer since 2024. Prior to becoming dean, he headed the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), MIT's largest academic department, for six years. Ms. Kornbluth said she had chosen him as MIT's inaugural chief innovation and strategy officer (CISO) because of his 'can-do attitude, creativity, enthusiasm, strategic insight, fluency across a wide range of subject areas, and gift for engaging industry allies and donors.' Prof. Chandrakasan succeeds Cynthia Barnhart, who announced her decision to step down from the role in February. Road ahead As MIT's chief academic officer, Prof. Chandrakasan will focus on three overarching priorities: understanding institutional needs and strategic financial planning, attracting and retaining top talent, and supporting cross-cutting research, education, and entrepreneurship programming, the MIT statement said. 'Recognising that each school and other academic units operate within a unique context, I plan to engage deeply with their leaders to understand their challenges and aspirations. This will help me refine and set the priorities for the Office of the Provost,' Prof. Chandrakasan said. Prof. Chandrakasan also plans to establish a provost faculty advisory group to hear on an ongoing basis from faculty across the five schools and the college, as well as student/postdoc advisory groups and an external provost advisory council, he said adding that his goal is to continue to facilitate excellence at MIT at all levels, it said. "We need students who can do more than just code or design or build. We really need students who understand the human perspective and human insights. This is why collaborations between STEM fields and the humanities, arts and social sciences, such as through the new MIT Human Insights Collaborative, are so important,' Prof. Chandrakasan said. Prof. Chandrakasan earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from the University of California at Berkeley. After joining the MIT faculty, he was director of the Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL) from 2006 until he became the head of EECS in 2011.
Hans India
6 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Siddhartha Academy welcomes new students
Vijayawada: Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education on Monday hosted its Induction and Orientation Programme for newly admitted students at its Central Auditorium. The event officially marked the beginning of the academic year, aiming at familiarising students with the institution's vision, academic environment, and extensive support systems. Vice-Chancellor Prof P Venkateswara Rao, inaugurating the programme, stressed the importance of multidisciplinary learning for holistic development and urged students to contribute to building an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India). Prof Rao underscored innovation, discipline, and character as foundational elements of the institution's educational philosophy. Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof AV Ratna Prasad exhorted students to pursue knowledge without boundaries, outlining the university's vision and mission. He advised them to fully engage in both academic pursuits and campus life, seizing every opportunity for personal and intellectual growth. Registrar Prof M Ravichand, Prof D Venkata Rao, Dean, School of Engineering, Prof GSN Swamy, Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs, the Deans, Heads of all Departments, faculty, parents, and students also participated in the programme.
Economic Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
From new rooms to smart classrooms: JNU's management, engineering await big upgrades
For the first time since their launch in 2018, Jawaharlal Nehru University's engineering and management schools will soon have their own academic buildings and hostels, reported TOI. As part of a ₹483.66 crore infrastructure overhaul under the Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) scheme, the university will construct a modern academic block and two purpose-built hostels for the School of Engineering and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship. Modern academic hub for technology and business According to the report, the upcoming ₹142-crore academic centre will span 29,000 square metres and include advanced lecture halls, simulation labs, interdisciplinary collaboration zones, faculty offices, and subject-specific laboratories. The design aims to support both cutting-edge research and applied learning in technology and business studies. These facilities are meant to match the academic demands of programmes that, unlike most JNU courses, charge significantly higher tuition fees. General category students pay ₹12 lakh for the full MBA, while OBC (non-creamy layer) students pay ₹8 lakh and SC/ST/PWD students pay ₹6 lakh—raising long-standing concerns about the mismatch between cost and infrastructure. New hostels with upgraded amenities Students will also get brand new hostels—JNU's first ever built specifically for a single academic programme. Together, they'll accommodate 2,600 students, helping end years of dependency on shared, cross-disciplinary housing. The School of Engineering hostel will cover 34,500 square metres and house 1,950 students at a cost of ₹126.69 crore. It will include furnished rooms, reading lounges, green spaces, and a dining hall, noted the news oulet. The management school hostel, sized at 11,500 square metres and costing ₹42.23 crore, will provide space for 650 students in modular rooms with shared workspaces suited for postgraduate life. Part of a larger push to modernise JNU These upgrades are part of a broader development vision. Under the HEFA scheme, JNU has received clearance for nine major infrastructure projects. TOI further reported these include a trans-disciplinary research and academic block (₹41.24 crore), an advanced animal research centre (₹22.92 crore), a cutting-edge instrumentation facility (₹27.05 crore), a start-up incubation hub (₹17.69 crore), and a 2,000-seat lecture hall complex (₹52.85 crore). 'These projects mark a major milestone for JNU,' said vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit. 'They reflect our commitment to creating a globally competitive, research-oriented university. As we align with the National Education Policy 2020, we're building a future-ready campus for both students and faculty.'
