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Professor Markus Reuter awarded honorary doctorate by Stellenbosch University

Press release of 8 December 2017

Professor Markus Reuter

Professor Markus Reuter

Foto: HZDR

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In a degree ceremony held today at Stellenbosch University, Markus Reuter is to be awarded an honorary PhD in Engineering for his outstanding scientific and technological contribution to the production and recycling of metals, as well as his exceptional role in the practical implementation of academic research. Since 2015, the metallurgy and recycling expert has been Director at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and Honorary Professor for System-Integrated Material Production at TU Bergakademie Freiberg.

Stellenbosch University highlighted the work done by Markus Reuter on the circular economy, on recycling-friendly product design and on resource efficiency, which is contributing to a more sustainable society. Through his research and lectures, he reaches and inspires key players around the world, helping engineers, representatives of industry and politicians to make informed decisions about the efficient use of scarce raw materials.

Professor Reuter was born in Stellenbosch, South Africa. He studied for his doctorate at Stellenbosch University and was habilitated at RWTH Aachen University. He has already received an honorary doctorate from the University of Liège (Belgium) as well as several other awards. In 2013, he was the lead author of the recycling report published by UNEP (the United Nations Environment Program).

A scientist and industrial expert

Markus Reuter has taught as a professor in six countries since 1996, including full professor at TU Delft, Netherlands, and in South Africa as well as ongoing honorary and adjunct professorial commitments in Australia (full professor at University of Melbourne), China, Finland and Germany. He has supervised 130 undergraduate and postgraduate students, published more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals and made more than 200 contributions to peer-reviewed conference reports.

He also spent nine years as technical director and chief technology officer at the Finnish company Outotec and Ausmelt respectively, a world leader in process engineering for ore processing and metallurgy. In 2015, he was appointed to the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, where his main focus is on resource- and energy-efficient material cycles as well as optimized metallurgical recycling processes. In collaboration with Dr Antoinette van Schaik, he conducted the first scientific study on the recyclability of a smartphone based on simulation software applied under near-industry conditions.