Note: Some media outlets require users to log-in. The Gordon Library offers the WPI community free access to a number of newspapers. Visit newspaper database for details.
Boston 25 News reported on Engineering Ambassadors, a program that connects dozens of WPI students with hundreds of middle school students every year. Through hands-on activities, WPI students strengthen their professional skills, give children the opportunity to learn about fun applications of science, technology, engineering, and math, and offer K-12 students a glimpse into college life and work in STEM.
Albert Simeoni, professor and head of the Fire Protection Engineering Department, provided analysis for a New York Times article about a deadly fire in several Hong Kong apartment towers and the "domino effect" fire spread that appeared to play a factor and created an especially challenging environment for firefighters.
The Telegram & Gazette reported on how WPI's student chapter of A Moment of Magic is making a difference in the community. Student members recently shared joy and connection with children and families for National Adoption Day in Worcester.
Purvi Shah, associate professor in The Business School, researches the nostalgic brand love that drives consumers to organize to resurrect deleted brands. Her research is cited in this report in TheStreet about the upcoming return of Diet Cherry Coke. The article was republished in Yahoo News and by more than two dozen newspapers around the U.S.
While many colleges and universities offer study abroad programs, few provide international experiential learning opportunities to the extent WPI does. The Open Doors 2025 Report on International Educational Exchange found WPI has the fifth highest rate of U.S. undergraduate student participation in study abroad programs among leading U.S. doctoral universities. The Worcester Guardian reported on the finding and the university's distinctive Global Projects Program that allows students to engage in hands-on project-based learning experiences off campus at more than 50 project centers on six continents.
The Worcester Business Journal reported on a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation that will support the university's effort to develop hands-on training, internships, and mentorship with the goal of expanding the hydrogen energy workforce.
Regan Krizan, a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, recently experienced weightlessness to conduct an experiment in zero-gravity. Krizan recently flew on a parabolic flight over France as part of a WPI research project to study molten metals and fluid flow with the goal of improving manufacturing processes and optimizing 3D printing.
The state has selected WPI to lead a regional partnership to establish the "BioHub", an initiative designed to power growth in the bioindustrial manufacturing sector in Central Massachusetts and advance sustainable biomanufacturing, applied research, and workforce development.
When search and rescue efforts get difficult, call in the bat-inspired drones! The Associated Press published an article and video about research from the lab of Robotics Engineering Department Assistant Professor Nitin Sanket. His team is creating tiny aerial robots designed to navigate through darkness, smoke, dust, and fog using the power of sound, just like bats do, to fly in low visibility. The goal is to improve search and rescue to save lives. The Associated Press article was republished by other news outlets including ABC News, Daily Mail, Washington Post, and Yahoo! News. The research was also covered by CBS News Radio, NPR, NBC Boston, and CBS Boston. Several other media organizations, including WBUR, TechCrunch, Telegram & Gazette, DroneLife, The Robot Report, and the HELLO FUTURE with Kevin Cirilli podcast also interviewed Sanket and produced their own reports on the National Science Foundation-funded project.
News outlets in Nantucket reported on an Interactive Qualifying Project students are working on with community groups and leaders on the island to seek to identify long-term solutions to litter problems. The students are using research methods including surveys during this experience, which is one of three required projects for graduation that are part of WPI's project-based learning curriculum.
Richard Lopez, assistant professor of neuroscience and psychology in the Department of Social Science & Policy Studies, spoke with the Washington Post for an article about how reframing certain negative experiences can be a powerful way to regulate emotions. Lopez conducts research that seeks to develop interventions to enhance health and wellbeing.
Craig Shue, professor and head of the Computer Science Department, spoke to CBS MoneyWatch to help explain the root cause of the Amazon Web Services outage that affected millions of people and disrupted a variety of online applications and services. He also spoke about what the outage reveals about cloud computing.
Several media outlets reported on two WPI research projects being selected as winners of the first Massachusetts AI Models Innovation Challenge. The projects led by Michael Timko, William B. Smith Professor of Chemical Engineering and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, and Berk Calli, associate professor in the Robotics Engineering Department, harness artificial intelligence to advance clean technology.
James Urban, a wildfire researcher and assistant professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering, spoke to the New York Times about how some fires can smolder undetected for long periods of time before rekindling and becoming larger and more destructive fires.
The Worcester Guardian reported on an expanded academic partnership between WPI and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The new agreement creates streamlined pathways for students to pursue advanced degrees in pharmacy and biomedical engineering.
Catherine Whittington, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, spoke with Drug Discovery World about her work developing experimental models that seek greater understanding about and help patients affected by fibrosis in the pancreas, skin, and uterine fibroids.
The Great Problems Seminar is featured in IIENetworker magazine, from the Institute of International Education, in an issue focused on innovations in first-year programs in international higher education. The article, authored by The Global School Associate Dean Sarah Stanlick, showcases WPI’s two-term course that immerses first-year students in university-level research and introduces them to the university’s project-based curriculum.
Several media outlets reported on advances in battery technology from two recently published studies led by Yan Wang, William B. Smith Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. The studies focused on improving the performance and stability of all-solid-state lithium batteries and advancing the safety and efficiency of methods to recycle lithium-metal batteries.
Ben Schneider, a video game writer and designer and professor of practice in the Interactive Media and Game Development program, provided analysis to the Associated Press for its reporting on the potential implications of a massive corporate acquisition deal in the video game industry. The article featuring Schneider's insight was also re-published by more than 190 other news outlets.
Buy-now-pay-later financing is increasingly being used by consumers to pay for travel expenses. Alexander Smith, associate professor of economics in the Department of Social Science and Policy Studies, shared his thoughts with the New York Times on how the practice can affect long-term personal financial planning.
Michael Timko, William B. Smith Professor of Chemical Engineering and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, co-authored an opinion piece in Smart Water Magazine on the importance of addressing PFAS contamination. The article highlights the role wastewater treatment facilities can play in minimizing the spread of “forever chemicals” and discusses new technology developed at WPI that has the potential to destroy PFAS in sewage sludge while also producing renewable energy.
