Talk Title:  Local Circular Electronics Lifecycle Empowered by Sustainable Computational Fabrication

Speaker:  Zeyu Yan, Ph.D. candidate, Computer Science, University of Maryland (UMD)

Location: IRB 4105 and Zoom

Abstract:  The evolution of electronic devices has exposed critical sustainability and resilience challenges, driven by reliance on centralized manufacturing. Meanwhile, the rapid growth of digital fabrication—from makerspaces to print farms—offers a unique foundation for building local infrastructures that can disassemble, recycle, and re-manufacture electronics. This talk presents printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) as a testbed for this vision and highlights three research projects: SolderlessPCB, PCB Renewal, and DissolvPCB. Each explores a distinct approach to enabling circular PCBA lifecycles through fabrication methods that are accessible and adaptable. Building on these prototypes, I set forth a vision of digital fabrication as the foundation for future sustainable electronics—extending beyond PCBs to diverse materials and assemblies, and becoming seamless, scalable, and integral to everyday life.

Bio: Zeyu Yan is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at the University of Maryland (UMD). He conducts interdisciplinary human-computer interaction (HCI) research, spans digital fabrication, tangible user interfaces, accessibility, and haptic interaction, with a recent focus on designing innovative digital fabrication techniques that promote sustainable practices in printed circuit board (PCB) prototyping. His work has been published and recognized at top-tier HCI conferences, contributing to advancements in accessible and eco-conscious technology design.