Washington, DC B 09

At A Glance

Term – B 2009

Project opportunities – IQP

Housing – Shared suites in a centrally located hotel

Director – Professor DiBiasio

Preparation – 1/2 unit preparation activity

Application deadline – September 25, 2008 (before 1:00 pm)

LOCATION

Students work on projects with prestigious sponsoring agencies while living in the heart of Washington, D.C., just blocks from the White House. The Washington Project Center is located in an attractive neighborhood near The Mall, shopping, businesses, embassies and international agencies. Take advantage of this ideal location and easy access to the subway to enjoy an endless supply of free museums, national monuments, and impressive buildings that house the seat of national government.

PROJECTS

Past projects have been completed with such agencies as the Smithsonian, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the National Science Foundation and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This is an opportunity to examine the inner workings of government and the importance of national action in areas of the environment, science education, urban issues, and consumer protection. Some recent project topics include:

•  Commercial Fishing Safety for the U.S. Coast Guard
•   Lithium-Ion Battery Safety for the Consumer Product Safety Commission
•   Biodiversity Outreach in Gabon for the Smithsonian Institution
•   Analysis of Climate Change Research for the Environmental Protection Agency

ESTIMATED EXPENSES

Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses	$ 450 $ 250 $ 500 $ 300 $ 700 $2,200	Round trip travel to site Local transportation (commuting cost to project sponsor) Groceries Dining out (7 x term) Weekend tourist activities & incidentals Estimated total out-of-pocket expenses
Expenses Included on your WPI Bill	$3,000	Housing and program expenses
Estimated Total Expenses	$5,200	Tuition and WPI On-Campus Housing NOT INCLUDED

Note:

In calculating the extra expense to participate in an off-campus project experience, compare this figure to expenses incurred while living on campus (groceries or meal plan, entertainment expenses, transportation, etc.)

Travel Dates:

Arrive on site Saturday, October 24, 2009
Depart site on Friday, December 18, 2009

Housing is provided beginning and ending on the dates above. Students who plan to arrive earlier or stay later will need to make their own accomodation arrangements outside of those dates.