In the News

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This Master’s in AI Program Is a Cross-University Collaboration. Here’s How Students Will Learn.

Elke Rundensteiner, the William Smith Dean's Professor of Computer Science and founding head of the WPI data science program, spoke with BestColleges about the university's new master's degree in artificial intelligence

Recycling Today

A lithium-metal battery manufacturer plans to fund a new research initiative led by Professor Yan Wang to develop a recycling technology for lithium-metal batteries. Wang is the William B. Smith Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

Worcester Business Journal

The U.S. Department of Energy will fund research to support environmentally friendly production of iron and steel. The work will be led by Yan Wang, William B. Smith Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

Worcester Business Journal

A lithium-metal battery manufacturer will fund a two-year research initiative at Worcester Polytechnic Institute to develop a state-of-the-art recycling technology for lithium metal. The initiative will be led by Yan Wang, William B. Smith Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. Learn more in this article from the Worcester Business Journal.

 

Boston Business Journal

WPI received $1.2 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for research to support environmentally friendly production of iron and steel. WPI's work, led by Yan Wang, William B. Smith Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, will focus on developing manufacturing technologies that use low-carbon electrolyzed iron powder in iron-silicon electrical steel. Read more in the Boston Business Journal.

Worcester Business Journal

Research led by Yan Wang, William B. Smith Professor of Mechanical Engineering will receive $75,000 in funding from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Wang is developing a recycling process to recover valuable chemicals and metals from discarded solar panels.

The Circuit News

Yan Wang, the William B. Smith Professor of Mechanical Engineering has developed an innovative lithium-ion battery recycling technique. His work is featured in this report by The Circuit News about National Science Foundation-funded research.

Yahoo! News

“This research shows that recycled materials can electrochemically match or outperform pristine, state-of-the-art cathode materials from tier 1 suppliers.” Yan Wang, William B. Smith Professor of Mechanical Engineering, explains the findings of a study he contributed to which found robust performance potential for recycled lithium-ion batteries.

The New England Council Blog

"I believed eventually – one day that recycling would make a big, positive impact for the field, for the industry, for the people. That’s why I won’t give up.” Yan Wang, William Smith Foundation Dean's Professor of Mechanical Engineering, honored as one of five 'Faces of American Innovation' by the Bayh-Dohl Coalition.

Tech Briefs

This piece in Tech Briefs highlights the work by Yan Wang, the William Smith Foundation Dean's Professor of Mechanical Engineering, to develop a greener method of manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles.

Mass Live

Yan Wang, the William Smith Foundation Dean's Professor in the Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, was interviewed by MassLive about the growth and future manufacturing trends in the electric battery industry. The article highlights the work done by Wang's lab at WPI to develop a process for lithium-ion battery recycling.

Worcester Business Journal

Worcester Business Journal named Yan Wang, William Smith Foundation Dean’s Professor of Mechanical Engineering, a “manufacturing champion” as part of its annual Manufacturing Excellence Awards.

The Hill

Yan Wang, William Smith Foundation dean’s professor of Mechanical & Materials Engineering contributed an opinion piece to The Hill “Battery recycling is key to a clean future." Wang writes increased investment in Recycling processes is paying off but emphasized the need for better public awareness about the importance of battery recycling and how it can offset the need for new mineral extraction or battery production.

Worcester Business Journal

William Smith Foundation Dean's Professor of Mechanical Engineering Yan Wang spoke with The Worcester Business Journal about his research and forward thinking on recycling lithium-ion batteries. The WBJ also spoke to Wang about the recycling process and how central Massachusetts is becoming a hub for battery research and commercialization.

Vox Media

Vox spoke with William Smith Foundation Dean's Professor of Mechanical Engineering Yan Wang about the future of recycling lithium-ion batteries, and why the recycling process needs to be taken into consideration at the beginning of a battery’s life – during the manufacturing process, rather than just at the end.

Popular Mechanics

Popular Mechanics spoke with Professor Yan Wang about his groundbreaking research to develop a method to recycle lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. Wang talked about the impetus for his research, the unique recycling process, the future of battery recycling, and how the technology is now being used commercially by Ascend Elements, the company Wang co-founded, along with his former PhD student Eric Gratz.

Boston Globe

The Boston Globe dove into the unique lithium-ion battery recycling process developed by Prof. Yan Wang. They also covered the company he founded with former PhD student Eric Gratz, Ascend Elements, and its plans for expansion.

Boston Globe

The Boston Globe reports on the how Ascend Elements, a company started at WPI, is a leader in the lithium-ion battery. While at WPI, the Ascend leadership team developed a unique process to recycle the batteries, so they can be reused without sacrificing performance.

WBUR 90.9

WBUR spoke with WPI Mechanical and Materials Engineering Professor Yan Wang about his work to recycle lithium-ion batteries, the company he co-founded, and how his research has shown that recycled batteries can often perform better than new lithium-ion batteries, by being able to be charged more times, and by lasting longer.

DesignNews

DesignNews reports on Professor Yan Wang’s research which has found that recycled cathode materials outperform those made from virgin material.

WCVB

Calling it a “breakthrough process,” WCVBTV-Boston’s “Cutting Edge” segment, featured Yan Wang, William Smith Dean’s Professor of Mechanical Engineering, who developed a groundbreaking process for recycling lithium-ion batteries.