The Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS) is pleased to announce that Dr. David Spencer, founder of wTe Corporation, has been appointed to MITS’ Board of Directors. A prominent figure in the recycling industry, David brings an engineering edge to the MITS Board along with many years of professional achievements, recognitions, and community service.

David received his doctorate in science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  While a doctoral student, he invented the Rheocasting® / Thixocasting® processes – casting technology deployed worldwide for high performance metal castings. In 1981, he founded wTe Corporation, a medium-sized privately held technology company focusing on recycling of metals and plastics. As former CEO and now chair of wTe Corporation, David developed novel plastics recycling projects for the company’s subsidiary, one of the world’s largest recycled polyethylene terephthalate (soda bottle) re-claimers, UltrePET®.  He also heads the development of new methodologies for high-value metals identification and sortation.

Soon after founding wTe Corporation, he was nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year by Arthur Young and Venture Magazine and was selected as a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year in 1990 by Ernst & Young, Inc. Magazine and Merrill Lynch. He has authored over 60 technical papers, including the recycling chapters of McGraw-Hill’s award-winning Handbook of Solid Waste Management, First Edition. Amongst his many achievements, David is a member of several honorary and professional organizations, including Tau Beta Pi, ASM International, and AIME (The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers) and has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

In addition to his involvement with MITS, David serves on the Board of Directors of several privately held companies, including the National Academy of Engineering Peer Review Committee for Materials and ASM Materials Education Foundation. For the past eighteen years, he has served on the National Science Foundation (NSF) Advisory Committee (AdCom) for their Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. In 2012, he was asked to co-chair a committee for the Manufacturing Division and chair a committee for the Engineering Education and Centers Division within the NSF Engineering Directorate. More recently, David was re-appointed to the Executive Committee of the Government University Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR), an outgrowth of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. David was elected as an Honorary Member of ASM International, “in recognition of distinguished service to the materials science and engineering profession, to ASM International and to the progress of mankind for an outstanding career in invention and entrepreneurship in materials manufacturing and recycling and for dedicated governmental service in promoting effective government-industry collaborations.”

The Museum Institute for Teaching Science is not the only educational organization in which David is involved. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the Birches School, an independent, nature based elementary school with a STEAM curriculum.

When he is not active with board service, David spends time with his family – swimming, boating, skiing, woodworking, and enjoying the delights of being a distinguished wine connoisseur.

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The Museum Institute for Teaching Science specializes in providing hands-on, minds-on, inquiry-based STEM professional development for formal and informal educators.  For more information, visit www.mits.org or call 617-328-1515.