Ryan Ravenelle: From Chemical Engineering to Lithium Innovation

What does it take to turn science into the technologies that power our future? In this episode of Edutainment Learning, students from around the world interview Dr. Ryan, Technical Director of the Lithium Americas Technical Center, about his journey from growing up in Carson City, Nevada to becoming a leader in chemical engineering and energy technology. Dr. Ryan earned his BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nevada and later completed his PhD at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he focused on catalyst design and converting biomass into fuels and chemicals. Since then, he has worked in research, development, and process engineering, helping advance technologies that support modern energy production. Today, he leads a team focused on process development, optimization, and next-generation technologies related to lithium—one of the most important materials powering batteries, electric vehicles, and the clean energy transition.Are you an educator? Go to edutainmentlearning.com/podcasts to download student worksheets for every episode!