Featured Speaker
Emily Molstad
CEO and Co-Founder
VALIS Insights
Presentation: "From Finite to Infinite: Closing the Loop on Critical Minerals"
Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Time: Noon to 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Location: MGM Grand, Room 120
As global demand for raw materials rises and finite resources are depleted, the need to design products and systems that prioritize resource efficiency, reusability, and recovery is more pressing than ever. Advancements in Industry 4.0, material design, and lifecycle modeling help to ensure effective recovery at end of life. Education from kindergarten to college is essential for engraining sustainable practices in future generations. Policy has the power to create incentives that drive systemic changes that minimize environmental impact. Together, technology, education, and policy transform today’s challenges into tomorrow’s breakthroughs, promoting circular practices that benefit both industry and society for all generations.
About the Presenter
Driven by her passion for sustainability and love of material science, Emily Molstad quickly found her home within the metal recycling industry. Molstad built the foundation of her technical expertise during her graduate studies at WPI's Center for Resource Recovery and Recycling (CR3) and through extensive interviews with industry stakeholders. This deep dive into the industry exposed the power of data to enhance recycling operations. Molstad, along with her co-founder, went on to found VALIS, a software startup dedicated to delivering the solutions needed to optimize the recycling process and create a circular economy. The VALIS team is committed to bringing Industry 4.0 capabilities that increase the profitability of metal recyclers and maximize the recovery of material from the past to meet the demands of the future. Molstad centers on leading with compassion and enjoys creating a supportive, collaborative environment that drives success for VALIS teammates, customers, and partners.