Global Perspective Program

In addition to IQP and MQP opportunities on campus, through the Global Perspective Program, overseen by the Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division, WPI students have many opportunities to complete a project for a term at one of WPI's residential project sites. Project work conducted at these sites provides teams of students with extraordinary opportunities to learn by solving problems provided by industrial, non-profit, non-governmental or government agencies.

Application for IQP work in these programs begins in the fall with the Global Opportunities Fair. At the Fair, IQP and exchange program directors will be available to talk with students about these opportunities. Students should apply in the fall of the year preceding the year in which they would like to participate. Further information is available at the Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division in the Project Center.

All students accepted to an off-campus IQP Center will be registered for the preparation course ID 2050 in the term immediately preceding their time off campus. Students must also be making satisfactory progress in their academic program.

Prior to leaving campus for a project program site, each student is required to complete a project registration form.

Residential Programs

All programs offer the students the opportunity to complete a project in one term of full-time work. Advance preparation is required. Faculty advisors are in residence at IQP and Humanities and Arts sites and some MQP sites.

Project Site Project Type Terms Offered
E A B C D
Ifrane, Morocco Humanities & Arts   X      
London, England Humanities & Arts X        
Boston, MA IQP   X      
Cape Town, South Africa IQP     X    
Nantucket, MA IQP     X    
San José, Costa Rica IQP     X    
Venice, Italy IQP     X    
Washington, DC IQP     X    
Worcester, MA IQP     X X  
Bangkok, Thailand IQP       X  
Hong Kong, PRC IQP       X  
London, England IQP X       X
Copenhagen, Denmark IQP         X
Melbourne, Australia IQP       X X
San Juan, Puerto Rico IQP         X
Santa Fe, NM IQP         X
Windhoek, Namibia IQP         X
WPI-Stantec MQP     X X  
Limerick, Ireland MQP   X      
MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Boston, MA MQP   X      
Wall Street, NY MQP     X    
Nancy, France MQP       X  
Panama City, Panama MQP     X    
Shanghai, China MQP     X    
Silicon Valley, CA MQP       X  
Budapest, Hungary MQP         X
China MQP X        

 

Programs in North America

BOSTON PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Director: Prof. S. Vernon-Gerstenfeld, Salisbury Labs

The Boston project site is a residential program with resident faculty advisors. This world-class city, featuring a wealth of cultural, educational, recreational, and tourist opportunities, is an exciting, vital and stimulating environment in which to live and work.

Projects focus on the improvement of the quality of life of the city for its inhabitants and visitors. Most projects will focus on environmental issues, as well as on urban maintenance, management and planning issues, and will include field work in the city's neighborhoods and in the greater Boston area. The data collected will usually be archived in databases and displayed on Geographical Information Systems, as a prelude to a careful analysis to produce insightful conclusions and recommendations. Past projects include: a plan for the reduction of neighborhood disruption during the work on the Big Dig (for the North End Neighborhood Association); an analysis of the impacts of Historic Districts on surrounding neighborhoods and a method of streamlining construction permits in those districts (for the Boston Landmark Commission); the creation of a computerized information system for the management and maintenance of street trees (for the city of Cambridge Department of Public Works); the collection and analysis of environmental data about Chelsea Creek (for the Environmental Protection Agency); the improvement of public safety through the inventory and mapping of all underground fuel tanks (for the Boston Fire Department), as well as projects for various departments of the cities of Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, Quincy and Newton.

WPI-STANTEC– MQP

Director: Professor F. Hart, Kaven Hall

Edmonton, Alberta is the Capital of Alberta and the northernmost North American city with a metropolitan population over one million. It is the hub for Alberta's petrochemical industry and support center for the massive oil, gas and oil sands reserves, reported to be the second largest in the world after Saudi Arabia. It is home to the University of Alberta (U of A) with more than 35,000 students in 200 undergraduate and 170 graduate programs, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) with 48,000 students and Grant MacEwan Community College with 40,000 students. The North Saskatchewan River Valley dissects the city providing a natural corridor for all season recreation making Edmonton one of Canada's safest, cleanest, and greenest cities. Edmonton is located only 4 hours from the majestic Canadian Rockies. 

The projects will be conducted during B-Term or C-Term at various Stantec. The students will work full time at Stantec's global head office for approximately nine weeks. They will work with a Stantec mentor and a WPI faculty advisor. Projects will focus on the research and development of various sustainability topics in the planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance of the buildings and infrastructure industry. This includes evaluation of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) strategies and tools that form the content of a best practices manual used by Stantec personnel for internal greening of their 100 plus offices as well as consulting projects for external clients. Potential projects include: Greening of the Corporation, Green Guide for Roads, Green Knowledge Management and Pre-fab Modular Home Studio.

NANTUCKET PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Directors: Prof. D. Golding
N. A. Mello, Project Center

The Nantucket Island project site is a residential program with resident faculty advisors. This historic island is 14 miles long with an average width of about 3.5 miles and has about 10,000 year round residents. It was once a booming whaling center but is now primarily a tourist destination, particularly during the summer months. A National Historic District, Nantucket has changed little since the 17th century complete with cobblestone streets, old shops and lamps, seaside cottages, and historical museums. It has excellent public beaches that extend around the island, and 40% of the island is protected conservation land.

Nantucket is a high-end, tourist destination in the summer when approximately 40,000 tourists visit the island and draw on the island's limited resources. This historic site is deeply committed to historic preservation and museum studies. And the Island is an environmentally-sensitive site where much of the land is protected and where problems such as beach erosion and invasive species have created new challenges. As such, projects tend to focus on environmental challenges (e.g., waste management, tourism impacts, sustainability) and on museum studies (e.g., providing information and maps to tourists; making museum information more accessible to the public). Potential projects may include working with the following sponsors: Maria Mitchell Association, Nantucket Historical Association, and the Egan Maritime Foundation.

SANTA FE PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Director: Prof. F. Carrera, Project Center

Santa Fe, capital of New Mexico, is the oldest (1610 AD) and highest (7,199 ft) state capital in North America. Nestled at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe is a quaint, human-scaled town of 70,000 Perched high above the Rio Grande in north-central New Mexico. In less than a half hour, it is possible to go from downtown Santa Fe up into the national forest, where skiing at over 13,000 feet is available until April. Santa Fe is a major center for Native American culture and a Mecca for both active and retired scientists and avant-garde artists. Due to the proximity of Los Alamos National Lab and the establishment within its boundaries of the world-renowned Santa Fe Institute (SFI), founded by George Cowan (WPI class of ‚41), Santa Fe has attracted world-class researchers, including several Nobel-prize winners, in the advanced field of complexity theory applied to physics, biology, economics and political science.

Despite its small size, Santa Fe is a sophisticated cosmopolitan and eclectic place where exciting opportunities for projects exist, especially at the intersection of Science and Art and in the general field of complexity applied to community issues. A bootstrap project conducted in term D 2009 identified three main areas on which to concentrate future projects: Water Conservation, Renewable Energy and Urban Planning. Given the interethnic history of this part of the US, we have established research collaborations with local Native American institutions on the above topics as well as on other important environmental, cultural and societal issues. In particular, WPI has submitted grant proposals to NASA in collaboration with the Indian American Institute of Arts (IAIA) and the Santa Fe Indian School (SFIS).

Silicon Valley Project Center – MQP

Co-Directors: Prof. D. Finkel, Fuller Labs 231
Prof. J. Orr, Atwater Kent 214

Silicon Valley, California, is home to many of the most dynamic companies in the computer industry and in other related hightechnology industries. Long-established companies such as Sun, Intel and Hewlett-Packard, and research centers such as SRI International and NASA Ames Research Center, mix with recent successes such as eBay and small start-ups to provide a dynamic and exciting atmosphere. The projects will expose students to both the cutting-edge technology and the dynamic entrepreneurship of Silicon Valley.

Students participating in the Silicon Valley Project Center will participate in a Preliminary Qualifying Project (PQP) during B-Term. During this PQP, the students will perform background research in the area of their project, learn about the company and the industry where they will be performing their project, and hold discussions with their company mentor about their project work.

The projects will be conducted during C-Term in Silicon Valley. The students will work full-time at the sponsor's site for approximately nine weeks, from early January through early March. They will work with a mentor from the sponsoring company and with a WPI faculty advisor. The project work will include the completion of an MQP report and presentation on the project to the sponsoring organization. Admission to the Silicon Valley Project Center is based on academic standing and performance, essay response, evidence of maturity and independence, availability of projects in a specific area, qualifications relevant to the project offered, and results of an interview. 

Projects may be available in Computer Science, in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Interactive Media and Game Development.

WALL ST. PROJECT CENTER – MQP

Director: Prof. A. Gerstenfeld, Washburn Shops 212

New York is one of the world's most exciting cities. Some of the best theater and museums are found there. Wall Street is known as the world center of investments and banking and is seen as the capital of business and technology. It has proven to be a training ground for the leaders of the future. New York is a place where people both work and play hard. It is fast moving and allows the opportunity to apply many of the skills learned at WPI.

At the Wall Street Project Center, students complete MQP's while working with a wide variety of agencies, such as Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, Lehman Brothers, and J.P. Morgan. Wall Street, now much more than investments, is the center of world commerce; there is a need for WPI projects involving computer science, management, industrial engineering, and mathematical sciences. Some of our projects include work-flow analysis, risk analysis (country risk limits), system usability, and data-base corruption issues. Other projects include user on-line functionality, and user help functions for global settlement systems. The projects are challenging and important to the clients as well as to the students.

WASHINGTON PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Director: Prof. D. DiBiasio, Goddard Hall 127

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.

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.

WORCESTER COMMUNITY PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Director: Prof. R. Krueger, Project Center

Students will work in offices in the central Worcester-region and commute daily from their residences.

The Worcester Community Project Center (WCPC) - develops projects around five core competencies: 1) planning for community sustainability, 2) green building design, 3) economic development, 4) historic, cultural, and environmental preservation and outreach, and 5) environmental justice. The WCPC has been recognized around the city and the region as a valuable community resource. As a result, students have the opportunity to work on a number of "high profile" community projects. Typically, these projects make significant contributions to improving the city we live in. Project sponsors range from municipal government, the Mayor's Office, the Broad Meadow Brook Audubon Sanctuary, the Regional Environmental Council, the Greater Worcester Land Trust, the Worcester Art Museum, Centro Las Americas and various community development corporations.

Recent projects include a historical analysis of Institute Park (sponsored by Benoit Reardon Architects and the Worcester Art Museum); green building design for Friendly House (sponsored by WPI and Friendly House); brownfield redevelopment in Worcester (sponsored by the Honorable Timothy P. Murray, former Mayor, City of Worcester); "Sustained Planning for a Sustainable Worcester" (sponsored by WPI and the City Office of Neighborhood Services); mapping of Worcester's open spaces (sponsored by Broad Meadow Brook Audubon Sanctuary); developing an on-line artist database (sponsored by ArtsWorcester and the City Manager's Office).

PROGRAMS IN EUROPE

BUDAPEST PROJECT CENTER – MQP

Director: Prof. G. Sarkozy, Fuller Labs 24

Hungary has gone through a deep-rooted transformation since 1989, and today it is a free and democratic country with a smoothly working market economy. The country has enjoyed a steady GDP growth, a bullish stock market and a decreasing inflation rate as well. As a result of these changes Hungary became a full member of the European Union on May 1, 2004. Hungary is a link between Eastern and Western Europe. New investment is revitalizing the country, and grand old Budapest is being restored. It's the country's cultural, political, intellectual, and commercial heart - and it teems with cafés, restaurants, markets, and bars. Budapest offers breathtaking Old World grandeur and thriving cultural life. Situated on both banks of the Danube River, the city unites the colorful hills of Buda and the wide, businesslike boulevards of Pest. The city is simultaneously peaceful and bustling, a big metropolis and yet friendly, it treasures the old and embraces the new. These days with all the changes happening, Budapest is one of the most exciting places in Europe.

These CS MQPs will be at the Computer and Automation Research Institute in Budapest. This Institute is the national research center in Hungary for information technology, computer science and their related fields. In addition to pursuing basic and applied research, system design and system integration, consulting and software development are also among the activities of the Institute. The Institute puts a special emphasis on education related activities; it is closely affiliated with several Hungarian and European universities, including the Budapest University of Technology and Economics and the Eotvos Lorand University of Sciences, Budapest.

DENMARK PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Directors: Prof. P. C. Pedersen, Atwater Kent 205
T. H. Thomsen, International House

The IQP project sites are in or near Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, located on the island of Zealand. The Danish population numbers 5.3 million and inhabits an area of 16,630 sq. miles. In addition to farming, Denmark has a diverse and highly technological industry, with emphasis on electronics, pharmaceuticals, shipbuilding, furniture craft and alternative energy sources. The Danish culture is very open to interdisciplinary academic questioning, the foundation of every IQP. Danes are brought up to question and debate the impact of technology on the quality of life and are leaders in utilizing the positive aspects of modern technology while trying to lessen its negative impacts.

IQP projects in Denmark span a wide range of topics, with an emphasis on environmental issues and technology for people with disabilities. Alternative transportation, food quality, technology to assist visually impaired people with disabilities are all topics of great interest to both the public and private sector. Not-for-profit agencies are also expected to sponsor several future projects.

LIMERICK PROJECT CENTER – MQP

Directors: Prof. R. Vaz, Project Center
Prof. A. Wyglinski, Atwater Kent 230

Visitors to Ireland encounter spectacular scenery including 3,500 miles of coastline, a rich cultural and literary heritage, vibrant cities and villages, and a warm and friendly populace eager to help visitors feel at home. Ireland also enjoys one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU. Limerick is Ireland's third largest city, and a center for both tourism and business, yet it retains the charm and feel of a small community in many ways. Limerick's center is located on the River Shannon, and features both medieval and Georgian influences; the outskirts of the city are home to a number of high-technology business parks and a major university. The areas surrounding Limerick are famous for their natural beauty and historical significance; the Republic of Ireland is small enough so that it can be explored from end to end in a series of weekend excursions.

MQPs in the Limerick area involve working at local electronics firms and research facilities. Students spend 10 weeks in Limerick, working fulltime in collaboration with local engineers on the projects. MQPs in Limerick typically focus on analog and mixed-signal hardware design, digital design and embedded systems, signal processing and communications, and software engineering. Specific project descriptions are not available until the beginning of the projects, as project sponsors typically provide the opportunity for students to work on cutting-edge problems of immediate interest to the sponsors.

Admission to the ECE MQP Program in Limerick is based on the following criteria: academic standing and performance, evidence of maturity and independence, qualifications relevant to the anticipated projects, faculty references, and the results of an interview.

LONDON PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Co-Directors: Prof. R. Krueger, Project Center
Prof. D. Golding, Project Center

Students at the London Project Center spend seven weeks in one of the world's finest capital cities. Some of the best theater and museums are found here, as well as neighborhood pubs where relaxation, music and conversation are an age-old tradition. A vibrant city, which has undergone rapid change, today London is known for its diverse cultures and interests - truly a city for everyone. This juxtaposition of past and present, tradition and modernity makes London a city with much to offer.

At the London Project Center, students complete IQPs while working with a wide variety of agencies. Recent or current project sponsors include Her Majesty's Tower of London, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Association of Chief Executives of National Voluntary Organizations, and the London Boroughs of Merton, Lewisham and Brent.

LONDON HUMANITIES PROGRAMS

Coordinator: Prof. J. Delorey, Alden Hall 205

WPI offers Humanities and Arts Projects in London in Terms B and E. London Humanities and Arts Projects are interdisciplinary and intended for students with many backgrounds in the humanities and arts. London was once the center of a global empire and its influence continues to radiate throughout the British Isles and well beyond. Humanities and Arts students in London study topics that might include history, literature, music, theatre, or culture, and work on projects that build on at least three previous courses in humanities and arts. As an interdisciplinary program, the London Humanities and Arts experience is not limited to the history or literature of Britain, but all projects take advantage of the unique resources available in London. These include some of the world's most vibrant theatre and the arts, outstanding museums, ambitious architecture, the libraries of the University of London, collections of film or sound recordings, and much more. London Humanities and Arts Projects are appropriate for students with a background in art history/architecture, drama/theatre, history, literature, music, philosophy, religion, or writing/rhetoric. Students planning a minor or major in International Studies, Humanities and Arts, or Technical Scientific, and Professional Communication, also may study in London in conjunction with this program.

NANCY PROJECT CENTER – MQP

Director: Prof. T. Camesano, Goddard Hall 218B

Nancy, France is a medieval city of about 350,000, located in the heart of the beautiful Lorraine region. The city is well connected by train to Paris, Frankfurt, and Brussels (each about 200 miles), and Luxemburg (75 miles). The "vielle ville" (old city) region of Nancy is known for its small streets, beautiful mansions, museums, and historic walks. There is a large student population, as well, and Nancy offers plenty of sports, concerts, movies, shopping, and eating places that are of interest to students.

The projects will be done in collaboration with the chemical engineering school of the Institut National Polytechnic de Lorraine (INPL), and l'Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Industries Chimiques (ENSIC). The projects will take place in one or more of the following: Laboratoire de Chimie Physique Macromoléculaire (LPCM, Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules), Département de Chimie Physique des Réactions (DPCR, Physical Chemistry of Reactions), Laboratoire de Thermo-dynamique des Séparations (LTS, Thermodynamics and Separation Processes), or Laboratoire des Sciences due Génie Chimique (LSCG, Chemical Engineering Sciences). Projects are anticipated in testing a polymeric drug-delivery system, image analysis of bacteria from a wastewater treatment process, bacterial biofilm formation in bioreactors, and possibly in fuel cells.

VENICE PROJECT Center – IQP

Director: Prof. F. Carrera, Project Center

Called the most beautiful city in the world, Venice features a haunting atmosphere which exudes the splendor of its past. A city without cars, yet with an outstanding historical, artistic, and architectural heritage, much of its uniqueness comes from its symbiotic relationship with the sea and the lagoon. Yet, despite its millenary history, the historic city of Venice is trying to adapt to our XXI century lifestyles, while preserving its environmental, artistic and cultural heritage. The rising cost of living in Venice has led to a dramatic exodus of its population which decreased since WWII from about 200,000 to around 60,000, while tourism has ballooned to 12 million visitors per year. Venice is a microcosm that reflects and magnifies many of the issues confronting the rest of the world, and at the same time it is a place that will allow you to experience a unique – more relaxed – pace of living.

Since the founding of the VPC in 1988, the IQPs in Venice provide an opportunity for students to see the implementation of their projects for the benefit of an entire city. Projects are conducted for Venetian, American and international organizations and include environmental, socioeconomic, artistic, cultural, and technical concerns important to the revitalization of this historic city. The over 120 projects completed in Venice include: studies on aspects of the Canals of Venice; which resulted in the publication of a book under the auspices of UNESCO; a number of projects on the preservation of Venetian art; several environmental studies on the lagoon ecosystem, which are contributing to the creation of a Lagoon Park; a variety of projects for the improvement of the urban quality of life in the city and the lagoon islands, which have resulted among other things, in the re-engineering of the Venetian cargo delivery system and the design of a vacuum sewer system to prevent discharges in the city's canals.

PROGRAMS IN AFRICA

CAPE TOWN PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Director: Prof. S. Jiusto, Project Center

Cape Town is located at the southern tip of South Africa. It is a city of many flavors, encompassing both developed nation aspects and developing nation characteristics. It is accessible to some of the loveliest and most interesting terrain that Southern Africa has to offer. Students will be able to visit the African bush (to see wild animals in well maintained and controlled parks), experience a cosmopolitan African city, and work on projects in some of the poorest and neediest areas of the region. Cape Town has wonderful resources and climate.

South Africa has the infrastructure of a developed nation but very limited resources for those areas that were neglected under apartheid. There will be a focus on energy resources, water conservation and the provision of housing, health care and other issues of sustainability to under-developed areas. The projects will be sponsored by government and non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and will focus on issues of sustainable development for the region. Students will have opportunities to work in informal housing settlements, in semi-rural areas, under the guidance of local experts.

The preparation for these projects will require no prior knowledge of Africa and will focus on the specific projects the students will undertake as well as the historical context.

MOROCCO HUMANITIES PROGRAM

Coordinator: Prof. W.A. Addison, Salisbury Labs 238

Students will study at Al Akhawayn University (AUI), located in Ifrane, Morocco. Ifrane is 120 miles east of Morocco's capital, Rabat, and 35 miles from the historic imperial cities of Fes and Meknes-cities famous for their revered mosques and colorful Berber migrants. With a population of about 15,000, Ifrane is a peaceful resort and recreational village in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, known for its French colonial architecture as well as a royal palace. Al Akhawayn University is a semi-private, English-speaking university founded by King Hassan II of Morocco and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. Since about half the faculty hold American graduate degrees, AUI resembles in some respects an American university. Throughout Morocco, cous cous is the favorite meal in local restaurants and traditional pastries and fresh mint tea are typical snacks at sidewalk cafés.

Two-thirds unit of AUI courses will be devoted to the history of the Arab World, Islamic Civilization, and contemporary issues in North Africa. One-third unit will be an independent study project based upon course work and upon tours to Moroccan historic and cultural sites under the supervision of the on-site advisor. These projects may focus upon a variety of areas, including history, religion, art and architecture, as well as contemporary socio-political issues, with the goal of providing greater understanding of Arab and Muslim peoples. The unit of work will either be credited towards meeting the Humanities and Arts Requirement or can be credited toward a Humanities and Arts or International Studies minor or major.

NAMIBIA PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Director: Prof. C. Peet, Project Center

Namibia is a southern African nation of extensive national parks, deserts, seaside ports, livestock farms, and towns, with an excellent infrastructure of maintained roads, clean water, and good services. Students will live in Windhoek, the modern capital city, on the campus of the Polytechnic of Namibia, WPI's partner university in Namibia. They will work in the city as well as other parts of the country. There will be an opportunity to visit national parks and other tourist attractions and a limited opportunity to become familiar with African rural life.

Namibia's well-developed government agencies at both the national and municipal levels will sponsor many of the projects, and these projects will generally focus around issues of sustainable development. In particular, projects typically investigate alternative energy sources, improved water and sanitation management, improved preventive health education, lowincome housing, micro-level income generating activities and tourism development. Local towns and peri-urban informal settlements will be the venue of some of the projects. No prior knowledge of Africa is needed, but the preparation will include a heavy commitment to learning about the culture of Namibia in addition to preparing specifically for the projects.

PROGRAMS IN ASIA

BANGKOK PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Directors: Prof. C. Demetry, Boynton Hall,
Prof. R. Vaz, Project Center

Situated in the heart of Southeast Asia, Thailand presents many of the opportunities and challenges common to developing nations. Students at the Bangkok Project Center have a unique opportunity to become acquainted with the people of Thailand and to help address local problems by working on a variety of social and environmental projects. Some projects provide the opportunity to work with under served communities, and some give students the opportunity to experience life in the countryside. Despite its challenges, Thailand is intensely beautiful: a land of gilded temples and golden beaches. The Thai people are among the friendliest and most hospitable in the world and have a great talent for enjoying life. Accommodations on the prestigious Chulalongkorn University campus position WPI students to meet Thai students and to explore the city's many attractions.

WPI students work in project teams on IQPs sponsored by local nonprofit organizations, universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations. Projects are conducted on a wide variety of topics and are arranged in advance through resident coordinators in Bangkok. Project themes often center on health and human services, community development, sustainable development and appropriate technology, and environmental issues.

HONG KONG PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Director: Prof. C. Peet, Project Center

Hong Kong provides a gateway to the most dynamic and important region on the planet. The wealth of the world has moved to Asia, and Hong Kong plays a crucial role in the development of China-currently the most significant economy in Asia. This city radiates energy as it rapidly modernizes and takes the lead in economic development, hi-rise building, efficient transportation, artistic expression, educational reform and environmental conservation. Students will live in furnished apartments with small kitchens, with 2-3 students in each apartment, in a typical Chinese residential neighborhood, somewhat different from typical tourist areas of Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong WPI works with a number of educational, social service and environmental organizations and institutions. Hong Kong University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have sponsored projects, while other sponsors include Friends of the Earth, Hong Kong Council of Social Service, St. James Settlement and Caritas. New sponsors are sought on a regular basis. In addition, WPI has a Memorandum of Understanding with Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU), giving WPI students access to library and other facilities on the conveniently located campus in TsimShaTsui, Kowloon, as well as enabling some HKPU students to work with WPI students on their projects, especially in the first half of January.

IQPs will deal with urban planning, a greener environment, sustainable resource use, education reform and innovation, economic and social issues, and other topics as appropriate.

SHANGHAI , PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA – MQP

Co-Directors: Prof. S. Zhou, Gateway Park,
Prof. D. DiBiasio, Goddard Hall 127

Shanghai draws the attention of the whole world as the largest base of Chinese industrial technology, the important seaport and China's largest commercial and financial center. Shanghai is situated on the estuary of the Yangtze River of China. Covering an area of 5,800 square kilometers (2,239 square miles), Shanghai has a population of 18.7 million, including 2 million floating population. Modern Shanghai has three key areas of interest to the visitor. These comprise sightseeing, business and shopping centered upon People's Square and along the Huangpu River.

The projects will be performed in collaboration with the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, SJTU. Possible projects include: Microbial clogging processes in porous media; Application of hollow fiber membranes in water treatment plants; Evaluation and application of fluid regimes in reverse osmosis membrane modules; Calculation and evaluation of fluid fields in bioreactors for waste water treatment (computational hydrodynamics); Application of immobilization bacteria for ammonia removal in drinking water (experiment and project design); Preparation of self-organized TiO2 nanotube arrays and its photoelectrochemical applications; Pollutant evolvement recorded in the sediment from the Dianshan Lake, Shanghai; Occurrences and characteristics of the emerging contaminants- PPCPs in water environments; Detection of organic acid in surface water using ion chromatography; optimization and software design for waste water treatment; Deep treatment processes and nitrogen removal for landfill leachate; Charged ultrafiltration membranes for natural organic matter removal in water.

CHINA – MQP 

Co-Directors: Prof. Y. Rong, Washburn Shops 307T,
Prof. A. Zeng, Washburn Shops 308

The label, "Made in China", and the recognition as the "world's manufacturing center" have drastically changed the global industrial landscape and propelled many Western companies to consider China as a partner in their supply chains. But the success of expanding business to China stems from a good understanding of Chinese culture and how business is operated in the Chinese environment. Doing MQPs in China provides a unique and valuable learning experience that helps WPI students acquire expanded and additional skills and knowledge about this vast country, in addition to the regular capabilities gained from completing a standard MQP.

The major features of this project center are fourfold. First of all, the WPI students are mixed with Chinese peers from one of our three partnering schools in China (HUST in Wuhan, SEU in Nanjing, and BJU in Beijing), and each team is co-advised by faculty from WPI and one of the Chinese universities. Secondly, projects are conducted full time either in summer (usually from mid-June to early August) or in A term (mid-August to early October) with a PQP in D term. Each project is conducted on one of the partnering school campuses with a few trips to company's site plant(s). Thirdly, the projects tackle read-world problems and are sponsored by multi-national corporations with China operations (e.g. UTC, Caterpillar, Saint Gobain, Nypro, Staples, and Amphenol TCS), joint ventures, Chinese state-owned enterprises, and others. Finally, project topics range from mechanical product and system design, robotics, manufacturing processes, lean manufacturing implementation, to supply chain, logistics, and operations process analysis and improvement.

PROGRAMS IN LATIN AMERICA

COSTA RICA PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Director: Prof. S. Vernon-Gerstenfeld, Salisbury Labs

Costa Rica is a land of contrasts: banana plantations, flaming volcanoes, misty black sand beaches and a thriving modern capitalist economy. A remarkably stable country, politically and economically, Costa Rica offers an opportunity for students to become immersed in a Central American culture where democracy, economic development, and concern for the environment are a permanent part of the landscape. Students stay in the capital city of San José, but ample opportunity is found to visit the country's attractions. Many projects have fieldwork associated with them.

Costa Rica's unique environment provides students opportunities to focus on environmental conservation and sustainable development by working with government agencies dedicated to those issues and with selected museums and private organizations. Prior knowledge of Spanish language is not required for participation. All students, however, must complete a two-week intensive language program on site.

PANAMA CITY – MQP

Director: Prof. J. Plummer, Kaven Hall

The Republic of Panama is situated at the heart of the American continent. Panama forms a link between Central and South America, constituting an isthmus 80 km wide at its narrowest point. The country has over 3 million residents, with one-third living in the capital, Panama City. World-famous for the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal, today Panama City is the most cosmopolitan capital in Central America. The city has seen significant growth and is known for international shipping and banking, transportation, insurance, warehousing, and sales. The combination of colonial ruins, modern high-rise office buildings, luxury homes, and squatters' slums reflects the blend of cultures, eras, and economic levels that are found in the city. Panama City has numerous tourist attractions, including Panamá la Vieja (the ruins of the original city), Casco Viejo (the Old Quarter), museums and national parks. The country has a tropical maritime climate, with an average daily high temperature of 30°C (87°F). Projects will be completed in the Environmental and Civil Engineering areas. Sponsors will include various government and private organizations in Panama City. For example, the Autoridad del Canal de Panama may have opportunities linked to the Panama Canal Expansion Program, an 8 year multi-billion dollar project to deepen the canal entrances, deepen and widen the channels, and install water saving basins at the locks. MQPs could encompass dredging and excavation work, hydraulics of the locks and basins, and concerns with water quality during and after construction. Additionally, treatment of waste during the canal expansion, and waste treatment in Panama City, are important initiatives. Other projects may be coordinated through SENACYT, the national organization for Science, Technology and Innovation. These may include environmental clean up on Coiba Island, among others.

PUERTO RICO PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Director: Prof. S. Vernon-Gerstenfeld, Salisbury Labs

The Puerto Rico Project Center offers an opportunity to be immersed in a Caribbean culture that is a unique and harmonious blend of Spanish and North American influences found nowhere else in the world. Located in San Juan, the Center offers the attractions of a large metropolitan area within easy reach of El Yunque national rain forest, white sand beaches, historic El Morro Spanish fortress, Arecibo Observatory, and many other sites of interest.

Projects are completed in teams and span a wide variety of topics including the environment, public health, housing, social welfare, transportation, and land use. Sponsoring agencies have included many offices of the government of the commonwealth as well as local industries.

PROGRAM IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

AUSTRALIA PROJECT CENTER – IQP

Directors: Prof. H. Ault, Higgins Labs 207

Melbourne, situated along Australia's southeast coast, is the country's second largest city. A city of parks and gardens, specializing in arts festivals, sporting events, and fine dining, it was voted "the world's most livable city" in an international survey. Melbourne, Boston's sister city, is also a fine place from which to explore the diversity of Australian life; only a short distance from mountains, deserts, beaches, mining towns, and extensive parklands and wildlife reserves.

IQPs involve outreach to the Australian public on issues or topics regarding science, technology and society. The projects usually focus on disabilities, fire protection or the environment.

INDIVIDUALLY SPONSORED RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS (ISRPs)

Many students and faculty augment the educational opportunities available at WPI's formal project centers and programs with individually sponsored residential, off-campus projects. All such programs must adhere to common, carefully structured risk management protocols such as those developed and implemented at established project centers. Otherwise, students, faculty, and WPI are exposed to unnecessary risk.

Hence, the Provost requires completion of the following risk management protocol by all faculty intending to advise students who will earn academic credit while in residence off-campus in individually sponsored projects.

  1. Two terms in advance of the off-campus activity: Faculty advisor sends a letter of intent to the Provost's office. The letter describes the scope of the anticipated project, where it will happen, how many students will participate, and the term that the students will be off-campus.
  2. Ten weeks prior to departure: Faculty advisor completes and submits a completed ISRP form to the IGSD (with a copy sent to Natalie Mello in the IGSD). The ISRP form is cosigned by the academic department head (MQP) or Dean of IGSD (IQP). At this time a signed Transcript and Judicial Release Form must be submitted for each potential student participant.
  3. Eight weeks prior to departure: All students expecting to participate in an ISRP should be in good academic standing at this time. WPI reserves the right to withdraw acceptance to students who are subsequently placed on academic warning. Students placed on academic probation are not eligible to participate. Upon review of academic and judicial records for each student the IGSD will inform the advisor of students who may be disqualified due to poor academic performance or judicial history at WPI.
  4. Six weeks prior to departure: Student participant(s) submit the following forms to the faculty advisor: the Acknowledgement of Voluntary Participation, the Off-Campus Students' Health Update and Records Release Form, and the WPI Off- Campus Travel Information Form.
  5. Five weeks prior to departure: The advisor submits these completed forms (item 3) to the IGSD. Please note that all forms can be found at the IGSD Web Page.

Please note that all forms can be located on the Web.

Project registration will not be complete until the conditions of this protocol are met.

At the completion of step 2, WPI's risk managers will review the information provided and make a recommendation to the Dean of IGSD, who will assist the Provost in making a final decision to approve or disapprove the activity based on considerations of risk management. The faculty advisor will learn of this decision no later than the first day of the term preceding the proposed activity.

  E Term Away A Term Away B Term Away C Term Away D Term Away
Proposal made to Provost's Office By January 10th By March 10th By May 10th By September 10th By November 10th
Completed ISRP form submitted to the IGSD By March 15th By June 20th By August 25th By October 25th By January 5th
Completed Health & Safety Forms for each student submitted to the IGSD By April 20th By July 25th By September 25th By December 5th By February 5th

* Final approval is always contingent upon submission of completed required forms by the student participants. Registration forms may not be signed until each student turns in their completed paperwork.

ON-CAMPUS IQP PROGRAMS

CENTER FOR INVESTMENT, RISK MANAGEMENT AND TRADING    

Director, Professor Hossein Hakim, Atwater Kent 231

The center offers IQPs in the areas related to investment. The projects will be designed with the involvement of the students and a focus in the areas of special interest to each project team. The projects will expose the students to broad areas such as accounting and corporate finance and will teach them the role of fundamental and technical analysis in the development of plans for investment and trading . The project could be focused on specific asset classes such as stocks, bonds, futures, or foreign currency; or derivatives such as options. The students could also do projects in the areas of risk management, analysis of portfolios, or development of algorithms for trading. For more specific information, you can contact Prof. Hossein Hakim.

GENDER, RACE, AND TECHNOLOGY

Prof. S. Vernon-Gerstenfeld, IGSD

Student projects in this program research issues in two general areas: (a) the participation of women and people of color in engineering and science education and in engineering professions, and (b) the effects of particular technologies on women, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and other specific racial or ethnic groups.

Projects are often co advised, with one advisor from humanities or social science, and one advisor from science, engineering, or computer science disciplines.

Past and ongoing project topic areas include:

  • effects of automation on office workers
  • women in science and engineering professions
  • underrepresented groups in science and engineering professions
  • sex differences in learning styles in technical subjects
  • ethics and reproductive technologies
  • science and math education for precollege Native Americans, Hispanics and African Americans.

Project ideas in these or other areas related to gender, race, and technology can be initiated by students or faculty. For more information, contact Prof. Susan Vernon-Gerstenfeld, Salisbury Labs.

 
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