WPI Community Inspires and Empowers the Next Generation in STEM

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Participants explore drug resistance.

On Saturday, November 1, WPI’s campus was buzzing with energy as faculty, staff, and students came together to empower and inspire the next generation of STEM problem solvers at Celebrating Womxn in STEM Day. Nearly 100 participants comprised of students in grades 7–10, along with their adult champions, took part in a full day of immersive learning, thoughtful conversation, and connection. The “champions” participated in STEM activities alongside their students, creating a shared experience that strengthened their ongoing support of their child’s journey in exploring STEM.

Participants take part in a team design challenge.

Highlights of the day included:

Interactive, hands-on workshops led by WPI faculty and graduate students that highlight research projects that address relevant problems and included lab tours
A panel discussion featuring undergraduate students sharing their personal journeys to STEM and WPI
A collaborative design challenge on water filtration that encouraged creativity, teamwork, and innovation
The event was a celebration of curiosity, discovery, and the unique talents, skills and lived experiences of all people who come together to solve problems and make our world a better place.

Participants learn about and create stents

Led by the Office of Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs, the planning committee, (Nicole Anterni, Kathy Chen, Jessica Rosewitz, Noemi Robertson and Ceren Yilmaz Akkaka) extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made the day possible with special thanks to WPI faculty, staff and students who facilitated activities and gave of their time and talents to make the day a success, and to our generous sponsor, WPI’s Women’s Impact Network, for their continued support.

People

Scarlet Shell

Associate Professor, Biology & Biotechnology

I have a passion for understanding how living systems work, as well as for sharing my love of biology and research with the next generation of scientists and informed citizens. The central goal of my lab is to understand the regulatory mechanisms that underlie mycobacterial stres [...]

Yonghui Ding

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Prior to joining WPI, Yonghui Ding held the position of Research Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University from 2019 to 2023. His career goal is to become a leading researcher and educator in the field of biomedical engineering. His primary research [...]

Christina Bailey-Hytholt

Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering

My research focus areas include biomaterials, drug and gene delivery, and diagnostics. In my research lab, we apply concepts including lipid and polymeric material assembly, molecular interaction studies, and engineering cellular microenvironments. We use these skills to address [...]

Elizabeth Stewart

Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering

My research utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to explore and exploit the physical properties of biological soft matter systems. Through investigating the biophysical properties of cells, multicellular communities and their microenvironments, my group seeks to reveal connecti [...]

Kristen Keane

Director, Program & Business Development, Robotics Engineering

Kristen Keane Director, Program & Business Development Phone +1 (508) 8315000 x5908 Department : Robotics Engineering [...]

Laila Abu-Lail

Assistant Professor of Teaching, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

Professor Abu-Lail is an assistant teaching professor of chemical engineering. She earned a PhD in civil engineering at WPI in 2011 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship while also teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in chemical engineering and civil and environmental e [...]

Kateryna Friedman

Assistant Teaching Professor, Physics

Jessica Rosewitz

Assistant Teaching Professor, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

Dr. Jessica Rosewitz brings to WPI a wealth of past WPI experiences, teaching and project advising, industry and community engagement, a passion for WPI’s project-based education, and focus on continual improvement of engineering education at all levels. Her P.E. license and expe [...]

Raisa Trubko

Assistant Professor, Physics

Professor Trubko is an experimental quantum physicist who leads the WPI Quantum Sensing group. Her group uses ensembles of Nitrogen-vacancy quantum defects in diamond to image magnetic fields with high spatial resolution. We work both to develop state-of-the-art quantum instrumen [...]

Ceren Yilmaz Akkaya

Assistant Teaching Professor- Chemistry, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Kathy Chen

Exec Director, STEM Education, STEM Education Center

Kathy Chen joined The STEM Education Center at WPI after 15+ years as a professor in Materials Engineering at California Polytechnic (Cal Poly) State University, San Luis Obispo where she served as Department Chair and lead many K-12 and community STEM outreach activities. In her [...]

Noemi Robertson

Instructor/Director for Community Partnerships and Education Access, STEM Education Center

Noemi Robertson joined the STEM Education Center as the Instructor/Director of Community Partnerships & Education Access in October 2022. Noemi is responsible for building and managing relationships in the local community to support teaching experiences for the WPI Teacher P [...]

Nicole Anterni

Director, Sponsorship & Events, Pre-Collegiate Outreach

Nicole Anterni Director, Sponsorship & Events Phone +1 (508) 8315000 x6973 Department : Pre-Collegiate Outreach [...]

WPI Community Inspires and Empowers the Next Generation in STEM

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