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.
MarketWatch calls on WPI expert on behavioral economics.
Alexander Smith, associate professor of economics in the Department of Social Science and Policy Studies, provided expertise for two separate articles in MarketWatch on inflation and the investment strategies of Generation Z. He discussed the disproportionate impact of persistent inflation on lower-income households and also shared his expertise on factors that can lead to people making riskier decisions with money. Smith researches behavioral economics and speaks to college students around the country about financial literacy and money management.
Google is exploring the possibility of putting artificial intelligence data centers in space. A rocket launch has cleared the way for early-stage testing with four processors. For an article in Scientific American, Alexander Wyglinski, professor of electrical and computer engineering, discussed the advantages and challenges associated with deploying data center technology in orbit.
Solomon Mensah, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, was featured in coverage by Worcester Business Journal regarding his receipt of a National Institutes of Health award. The funding will support research experiences for undergraduate students investigating how sepsis-related inflammation triggers blood clots that can block blood vessels and cause strokes.
A new National Science Foundation-funded program will provide scholarships and mentoring with the goal of improving retention and graduation rates of low-income students in several fields.
Joseph Sarkis, an expert in supply chains and a professor of management in The Business School, was featured in a report from the public media outlet Marketplace, which aired on National Public Radio stations around the country. Sarkis provided an interview to help explain some of the reasons why U.S. imports have been rising.
Rodica Neamtu, professor of teaching in the Department of Computer Science, spoke with NBC Boston for its coverage of recent warnings about potential risks associated with artificial intelligence technology. Neamtu shared her thoughts on the importance of making sure humans stay in the loop in AI development and deployment and for everyone to be educated about how AI works.
The Worcester Guardian reported on the awarding of National Science Foundation CAREER Awards to Fatemeh Ganji, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Fanglin Che, associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Ganji's research will focus on cybersecurity to protect privacy on AI devices. Che's work will focus on using AI and data-driven simulation to optimize catalytic reactions during carbon dioxide capture and electrochemical conversion.
Stephen Kmiotek, professor of practice in the Department of Chemical Engineering and faculty member in the university's explosion protection engineering program, provided analysis for an Associated Pressarticle detailing historical safety records at a mill where a chemical tank imploded in May.
Kwamie Dunbar, interim dean of The Business School, spoke with Livability.com for an article highlighting how WPI's academic programs, including AI and financial technology, and interdisciplinary approach help prepare students for evolving careers and support regional workforce development.
Engineering drawings can provide critical insight into whether a building’s structural supports match the intended design. In The New York Times article, WPI Dean of Engineering Dan Linzell explains what the drawings reveal about missing or partial-length reinforcing steel plates in a Manhattan high-rise.
The university has established an academic partnership with Worcester State University that seeks to expand access to engineering education and support regional workforce development. The agreement will grant Worcester State students who complete a pre-engineering curriculum and meet academic requirements transfer admission to WPI to complete their engineering degrees.
Alexander Smith, associate professor of economics in the Department of Social Science and Policy Studies, shared insights with WalletHub for an article that explains the personal finance trend of loud budgeting, how it can be effective in controlling spending, and its potential drawbacks.
What is cognitive reappraisal and what does it have to do with football? The Athletic, from the New York Times, explored those questions and got some help from Richard Lopez, an assistant professor of neuroscience and psychology in the Department of Social Science and Policy Studies. Lopez explained how cognitive reappraisal can help people adapt to challenges.
Catherine Whittington, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and her students are researching uterine fibroids. Student projects in her lab have paved the way for research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, to develop laboratory models that could lead to better understanding in the search for treatments.
Vytenis Babrauskas, adjunct teaching professor in Graduate and Professional Studies, an expert on electrical fires and explosions, shared his insight with Agence France-Presse for a fact check article regarding the investigation into the causes of several wildfires in Spokane, Washington.
John Blandino, professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, appeared as a guest on BBC Science Café, a radio program produced by BBC Radio Wales. The show highlighted the 100th anniversary of WPI graduate Robert Goddard's successful launch in 1926 of the world's first liquid-fueled rocket. During a 15-minute interview, Blandino discussed Goddard's vision, ties to WPI, and historical achievements. (Note: the webpage with audio from the show is only available in the United Kingdom)
What are fire whirls? James Urban, associate professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering, was featured in an Associated Press video that explains the phenomenon recently seen in wildfires in the Western U.S. and in Europe. The video also highlights a fire whirl demonstration the department conducted in a laboratory to assist the news agency with its wildfire coverage.
How can tech professionals manage the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence tools? Craig Shue, professor and head of the Computer Science Department, offered his advice for an article in Computerworld. He warns of potential bugs that can result from fallibility in large language models.
Multiple media outlets reported on research efforts led by Michael Timko, the William B. Smith Professor of chemical engineering, to develop technology that destroys harmful PFAS "forever chemicals" which have been linked to serious health conditions. Timko's team has received a $1.5 million federal award to support its efforts to help communities eliminate PFAS contamination in soil and firefighting foam.
Melissa St. Peter has been named one of the Best and Brightest Online MBA graduates from the Class of 2026 by Poets & Quants, a news organization that covers business education. The honor recognizes 52 student professionals in the world’s top online MBA programs.
Muthu Kumaran Selvaraj, assistant research professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering, discussed wildfire emergencies in France and Spain in a live television interview on CNA (Channel NewsAsia), a news network based in Singapore. He shared his expertise on wildfire behavior, emergency response, and the unique characteristics of this summer's fires in Europe. The interview also contributed to an article in which Selvaraj helps explain the presence and impact of pyrocumulonimbus clouds during fires in France.
