Imagine. Innovate. Integrate. Impact. These concepts lie at the heart of WPI’s School of Arts & Sciences. The interdisciplinarity of the arts and sciences at WPI— seamless interactions between and among the arts and sciences as well as engineering and business—allows what our imagination sparks to come to life through scientific, technological, artistic, and humanistic innovation.
The arts and sciences eliminate barriers between disciplines such that the specter of what is possible is limitless. Overcoming barriers between disciplines has allowed WPI faculty and students to utilize their imagination, innovation, and creativity in extraordinary ways to tackle the unprecedented global challenge of the COVID-19 crisis. This approach lies within the fabric of our institution and school. With a challenge like COVID-19, WPI faculty and students continue to imagine a world where we play a critical part in addressing not just the needs of the moment but those that will define our future.
I am honored to be part of this amazing community without boundaries. Where music, art, and design-thinking allow our scientists and engineers to have long-lasting and eternal impact, inspiring and exciting the imagination to reach their own stars, regardless of what they choose to research or study. The students and faculty of WPI’s School of Arts & Sciences are making an impact not only here on campus and nationally, but throughout the world.
-Jean King, Peterson Family Dean of Arts & Sciences
To inspire members of the Arts & Sciences community to be creators, scholars, inventors, and responsible global citizens
To bring together cross-disciplinary and diverse perspectives to promote discovery and communication, advance knowledge, and improve the human condition
WPI’s Critical Conversations series—initiated by the School of Arts & Sciences in 2018—uses panels of faculty, students, and external guests to explore emerging topics. Recent topics included Technology & Social Justice, Impact of Social Media, Climate Science, Student Mental Health, and Circular Economy.
After the pandemic hit, WPI implemented a Be Well initiative offering free virtual yoga, meditation classes, and wellness talks to students, faculty, and staff. Envisioned by Jean King, the virtual get-togethers were led by community practitioners and A&S faculty members Angela Rodriguez, assistant professor of social science & policy studies; Jeanine Skorinko, professor of psychology; and Kathryn Moncrief, professor and head of the Department of Humanities & Arts.
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David Spanagel, associate professor of humanities & arts, was quoted in the Science News article, “Marie Tharp’s groundbreaking maps brought the seafloor to the world.” “That’s why her map is so powerful,” Spanagel told the publication. “It allows people to see the bottom of the ocean as if it were a piece of land, and then reason about it. That’s a transformative thing that she’s able to accomplish.”
David Ibbett, adjunct professor of music, sat down with The Telegram & Gazette to talk about his first album, "Octave of Light," which was written based on the more than 4,000 exoplanets that have been discovered in our solar system. Ibbett will debut his album tonight via live stream at the Boston Museum of Science.
