When the E-Scrap Conference convenes in October, one of the freshest voices to join the stage will be Ikenna Nlebedim of Ames National Laboratory. He is set to appear on a session exploring rare earth recovery and recycling, a subject that has never been more critical as the industry pushes to secure essential materials in smarter, cleaner ways.
Nlebedim is a scientist at Ames Lab, deputy lead in the Critical Materials Institute and an adjunct faculty member at Iowa State University. His work spans rare earth permanent magnets, lithium and cobalt recovery, and groundbreaking acid-free recycling methods. He also led the multi-institutional effort that produced the first made-in-America rare earth magnet in two decades, an achievement that drew national recognition and a string of innovation awards.
Read the full story: Stars of ESC2025 in the Spotlight: Ikenna Nlebedim