On July 6, Rachel, a former doctoral student at the I2M laboratory on the Bordeaux campus, won the Jean-Marc Gey (JMG) Prize, which rewards doctoral students conducting research in a laboratory affiliated with the National School of Chemistry, Biology, and Physics (ENSCBP), for projects or thesis topics related to sustainable development.
Rachel comes from Sao Paulo, Brazil. She is theIPT, a technological research institute, which is funding his research stay at the Arts et Métiers institute Arts et Métiers Chambéry between June 2015 and February 2016. The subject of his thesis was identified in Chambéry and his thesis, co-funded byADEME and Ecologic, begins in November 2016 within the I2M laboratory from the Bordeaux campus. She defended her thesis in December 2019.
Determining multidimensional indicators for WEEE
The objective of the thesis is to establish a set of indicators related to the collection and treatment of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). These indicators aim to better assess the progress made by the regulatory sector and to report on all aspects of the circular economy. In addition to the technical assessment of the sector, it proposes an assessment of the environmental, economic, and criticality aspects related to the recovery of secondary raw materials from WEEE.
Twenty-two multidimensional indicators are presented and validated with a case study on screens, taking into account data and specific characteristics of the French industry. Nevertheless, the methodological approach and indicators proposed in this thesis can be used by other European Union member states as well as for other industries.
An online audition during lockdown for the JMG Award
The thesis is supervised by Nicolas Perry, professor at the I2M laboratory in Bordeaux, and co-supervised by Carole Charbuillet, research engineer in eco-design and recycling at the Chambéry institute. During her thesis, she made several trips between Chambéry and Bordeaux, in addition to exchanges via videoconference. Carole is assisting her with her expertise in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and WEEE recycling.
After submitting a summary of her topic to the call for projects for the JMG prize, she was invited to an online audition due to the health crisis. The JMG prize is open to projects in the fields of Quality-Safety-Environment (QSE) management, sustainable development, and social responsibility. The award is reserved for students and doctoral candidates from the research laboratories affiliated with the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, de Biologie et de Physique (National School of Chemistry, Biology and Physics).
This award represents recognition for my thesis work in addition to my doctoral degree. It was an enriching experience to present my work in a more condensed form than the thesis defense, and to a diverse audience.
After completing her thesis, Rachel was hired as a postdoctoral researcher in the CyVi Group atthe Institute of Molecular Sciences (ISM) at the University of Bordeaux.
I work on topics related to LCA, the circular economy, and waste management. In the coming years, I plan to continue working in research in Europe.
