Dr Fernando Vaz

As a biologist with a Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham, Dr Fernando Vaz specialises in connecting concepts across disciplines, merging environmental science, process engineering, and circular economy principles. His strength lies in synthesising multiple distinct ideas into a single, versatile solution that serves multiple purposes, particularly in resource recovery and sustainability.

His innovation repurposes mine tailings, which have long been considered a waste product, into valuable secondary sources of metals. By combining dewatering via liquefaction, inverted chemical leaching, pre-inoculated bioleaching, and fine-grain metal recovery, his solution offers a technically simple and economically viable alternative to conventional methods, reducing environmental impact while unlocking critical raw materials.