WHO'S COMING?
WPI's Department of Fire Protection Engineering is celebrating 45 years of groundbreaking research and innovation. Alumni, supporters, and industry partners are invited to join us on campus for the celebration.
Fire Protection Engineering 45th Anniversary
Thursday, May 16 - Saturday, May 18, 2024
WPI Campus
Home to the first master’s program and one of only three fire protection engineering (FPE) graduate programs in the nation, the Fire Protection Engineering Department at WPI has driven significant cutting-edge research, developed real-world solutions through its state-of-the-art fire laboratories, and graduated highly trained, influential, in-demand experts.
The schedule for the celebration is listed below. Upon arrival on WPI's campus, please proceed to the third floor of the Rubin Campus Center to check-in and receive more information.
Event Schedule
THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024
12:00 – 3:00 pm
Salamander Honorary Society Lunch and Program (by invitation only)
Evening
Dinner on your own
FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024
9:00 – 9:30 am
Registration and Light Refreshments
Rubin Campus Center, Third Floor
9:30 – 9:40 am
Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:40 – 9:50 am
WPI Today – Interim Provost Art Heinricher
9:50 – 10:10 am
History of the WPI FPE Program the first 25 years
10:10 –10:30 am
Continuing with the WPI FPE Program 2004 to Today – Prof. Kathy Notarianni and Prof. Albert Simeoni
10:30 –10:50 am
Break
10:50 –11:00 am
FPE’s Impact at WPI – John McNeill, PhD, Bernard M. Gordon Dean of Engineering
11:00 –11:30 am
Current FPE Research – Prof. Albert Simeoni, Prof. Ali Rangwala, and Prof. James Urban
11:30 –11:45 am
Pearsall Innovation Challenge Overview – Prof. Milosh Puchovsky
11:45 am –1:30 pm
Lunch Program and Panel Discussion – Artificial Intelligence: How Will It Disrupt FPE?
Discussion Moderated by M. Puchovsky starting at 12:15 pm
Panel Members:
- Matt Foley from Code Comply – A Startup Developing FPE Plans Review Software with AI
- Renee Meinhold from Lockheed Martin – LMCO is employing AI in wildfire applications
- Rodica Neamtu, WPI Computer Science Department
- Yi Wang, Fire Research at FM Global
- Prof. S. Reza Zekavat, WPI Data Science and Physics
1:30 –2:00 pm
Endowments & Opportunities – Lynne Feraco, followed by Prof. Albert Simeoni
2:00 – 4:30 pm
FPE Lab Tours and Fire Demos – Led by Fritz Brokaw
- WPI Shuttle Provided; Final Shuttle departs Gateway Park at 5:45 pm
Explore Campus and Bookstore Sales (Bookstore is open 9:00 am-3:00 pm)
FPE Collection from the Gordon Library in Odeum
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Cocktail Reception Sponsored by FM Global
Rubin Campus Center, 3rd Floor, Mid-Century Room and Hall of Luminaries
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Dinner Program
- Introduction – John McNeill, Bernard M. Gordon Dean of Engineering
- Welcome –Grace Wang, President, WPI
- Presentation of the Howard W. Emmons Distinguished Lecture Award
- Recipient – Sergey Dorofeev, PhD
SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024
9:00 – 9:30 am
Registration and Light Refreshments
9:30 – 10:30 am
Emmons Distinguished Lecture – Sergey Dorofeev, PhD Introduction – Prof. Albert Simeoni
10:30 – 10:50 am
Break
10:50 – 11:20 am
Overview of Recent Student Projects – Prof. Milosh Puchovsky
11:20 – 11:50 am
Wildfire Initiative – Prof. Albert Simeoni
11:50 am –1:00 pm
Lunch and Closing Remarks – Prof. Albert Simeoni
