Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Great Problems Seminar (GPS) poster presentations, held on Dec. 9. The annual event showcases students’ innovative research on a wide range of solutions to some of the world’s most critical challenges. The 2025 GPS classes focused on challenges related to AI, Design, and Society; Extinctions; Climate Change; Seeking Sustainability; Heal the World; Smart and Sustainable Cities; Recover, Reuse; and Shelter the World.
“I was deeply inspired by the professionalism and thoughtfulness demonstrated by our students during their presentations,” says Yunus Doğan Telliel, the director of GPS and an assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Arts. “I believe that, with their GPS experience, this cohort of students is well-prepared to gain greater intellectual satisfaction and achieve greater professional growth throughout their time at WPI.”
In total, 41 teams of first-year students presented posters. Judges included alumni, staff, faculty, and parents. The winner from each section is listed below.
- AI, Design, and Society (co-taught by Gillian Smith and Laura Roberts)
“Students vs. the Clock,” Matthew Erickson, Adam Kaufmann, Brady Messier
- Extinctions (co-taught by Marja Bakermans and William San Martín)
“Saccharine Struggles: Sugarcane and the Control of its Pests,” Jaime Luggelle, Aaron Diamond, Cameron Chirco, Drew Auletta
- Climate Change (co-taught by Geoff Pfeifer and Marja Bakermans)
“Green vs. Gray: Transforming Cities Through Green Space,” Vaughn Carroll, Blake Graumann, Aadi Kumar, Chhabi Patel
- Seeking Sustainability (co-taught by Derren Rosbach and Geoff Pfeifer)
“Returning Color: Mitigating the Effects of Sunscreen on Coral Bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef,” Shania Chin, Liam Lisbon, Danica Meyer, William Reese
- Heal the World (co-taught by Elisabeth Stoddard and Carissa Olsen)
“Tuberculosis: How Underdiagnosis Affects Children in South Africa,” Will Keller, Keegan Labbe, Avery Martinson, Saulene Sebeda
- Smart and Sustainable Cities (co-taught by Katherine Foo and Stephen McCauley)
“Evaluating Infrastructure Challenges in Worcester and Creating Green Design Guidelines,” Mekhi Howell, Christina Sbano, Tristan Suplis, Phat Le
- Recover, Reuse (co-taught by Jianyu Liang and Svetlana Nikitina)
“Storm Sip,” Finn Kennedy, Alex Chan, Jack Biggs, Declan Kelly, Khalid Mahamed
- Shelter the World (co-taught by Amanda Wittman and Kathryn Crockett)
“Sensible Senior Solutions,” Aiden Alvarado, Lincoln Clark, Aariv Thakkar
And, congratulations to the GPS People’s Choice Award winners:
- First place: From Smart and Sustainable Cities, “Evaluating Infrastructure Challenges in Worcester and Creating Green Design Guidelines,” Mekhi Howell, Christina Sbano, Tristan Suplis, Phat Le
- Second place: From Recover, Reuse, “Cooking Up a Cleaner Engine,” Nuh Shaheer, Elliot Daniels, Spencer Brown, Chet Fantozzi, Aidan Keefe
