Impact of rare earth studies at the Naval Academy?

I read somewhere about rare earth research taking place at the Naval Academy. Does anyone know what kind of programs or opportunities are available related to this field? It's something I'm interested in exploring further.

The United States Naval Academy (USNA) indeed engages in research related to rare earth elements. One prominent initiative is the Midshipmen Action Group's (MAG) Rare Earth Element Recovery Program. This program focuses on the extraction and recovery of valuable rare earth elements from electronic waste.

Under the wings of this program, midshipmen have the chance to immerse themselves in the process of e-waste recycling, exploring ways to improve current methods, and researching technology that enables efficient and sustainable recovery of these elements. This is an engaging, hands-on process that can lead to helpful insights in the field of rare earth elements, which are increasingly important in many technologies, including defense applications.

In addition to this specific program, midshipmen at the USNA have opportunities to delve into a broad range of scientific research, and may find other areas of study that intersect with or relate to the exploration of rare earth elements. A good starting point would be to look at departments focused on chemistry, materials science, or engineering, all of which likely touch on critical aspects of investigating rare earth element properties, uses, and recovery methods.

The USNA has a notably strong culture of undergraduate research, with many midshipmen participating in extensive research projects starting sophomore year, so there are plenty of opportunities to pursue this area of interest if you choose the Naval Academy for your studies.