Alumni Award News
2008 - Irving Backman, Class of 1943
Backman has used his legal and business talents to support technological innovation with the goal of helping mankind. During his career, Mr. Backman has funded or initiated a wide variety of significant high-tech projects such as industrial and surgical laser technology, a system for continuous roll system laser printing, and development of molecular resonance effect technology.
During his career, Mr. Backman has funded or initiated a wide variety of significant high-tech projects such as industrial and surgical laser technology, a system for continuous roll system laser printing, and development of molecular resonance effect technology. He has also extended his expertise to a series of mining programs in Columbia, South America, as well as hydrology research and development in drought areas, and has worked with Native American reservations to develop their natural resources in an environmentally sound manner.
He is currently working on new solutions to the long-term effort to extract oil from shale. In addition, he is now researching the feasibility of growing algae for conversion into biofuel and is currently working with the Thornton Academy Science Department on a pilot project using various strains of the organism to test the concept.
