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Wildfire research at WPI
The devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area exemplify the dangers of wind-driven fires in inhabited areas. WPI’s Department of Fire Protection Engineering is leading research designed to understand how fires spread with the goal of contributing to measures that can better protect communities and firefighters.
WPI’s experts in this field include those who are part of the National Science Foundation’s Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center, a collaboration with San Jose State University, to study new fire detection methods, first responder safety, and wildfire suppression systems.
WPI’s research, which involves faculty and ongoing experiments conducted by students in a state-of-the-art wind tunnel on campus, was featured by several media outlets including The Boston Globe, WCVB, NBC 10 Boston, NECN, and Spectrum News 1.
The Associated Press also interviewed James Urban, an assistant professor of fire protection engineering, for an article that helps explain how firebrands, or flying embers, contribute to the spread of wildfires. The AP also interviewed Urban and visited campus to observe fire laboratory experiments for its coverage explaining how fire whirls, or fire tornadoes, can develop in large fires like those occurring in the Los Angeles area. Their experiments were photographed and featured in an AP article, "Fire tornadoes pose a threat in California. A fire lab shows how they work" and in an AP video.
Professor Urban also spoke with WPTF, a news radio station in Raleigh, NC, about how wind and drought factored into the California fires, and about wildfire prevention.
Jean King, Peterson Family Dean of Arts and Sciences, talked with Spectrum News 1 about a WPI-led, National Institutes of Health-funded study of how artificial intelligence can fine-tune the effectiveness of mindfulness on chronic pain.
Jean King, the Peterson Family Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences authored a column for Nature's World View. She outlines why the scientific community must do more to champion pay equity, increase representation, and foster supportive inclusive environments for women and other underrepresented groups in STEM.
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette interviewed Elke Rundensteiner, the William Smith Dean's Professor in Computer Science; Jean King, the Peterson Family Dean of Arts & Sciences, Carolina Ruiz, computer science professor and associate dean of Arts & Sciences, and John McNeill, the Bernard M. Gordon Dean of Engineering, for an article highlighting the launch of the new master's degree in artificial intelligence.
Science journalist Vivien Marx hosted Jean King, the Peterson Family Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, for an episode of her podcast, Conversations with Scientists. King shared her experience hosting Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó at the Nature Conference, and talked about her experiences as a woman of color in academia.
Nature Methods interviewed Jean King, the Peterson Family Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, about hosting Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó at the Nature Conference, and about her experiences being a woman of color in the STEM field.
Worcester Business Journal reported on the rollout of WPI's new master's degree in artificial intelligence. The article highlights the program's strong emphasis on the ethical implications of AI as well as a multidisciplinary approach to the degree, including research. Several other media outlets including Yahoo! Finance published news about the new program.
"This is our moment in terms of the life sciences," said Jean King, the Peterson Family Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. The Nature Conference, held at and co-organized by WPI, highlighted the school's work in the life sciences, the region's biotech presence, and opportunities for growth.
The Nature Conference held on campus drew two Nobel Prize winners as keynote speakers. Phillip Sharp and Katalin Karikó shared information on their research that led to the prestigious recognition. Spectrum News 1 spoke with Karikó about her journey and interviewed Jean King, the Peterson Family Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, about the inspirational nature of Karikó's story.
Worcester News Tonight aired a story about a new mural at WPI created by internationally renowned graffiti artist Panmela Castro. Castro’s painting, which was done on a wall in Salisbury Labs, features Abby Kelley Foster, a 19th century women’s rights activist from Worcester. The work was done in celebration of Arts and Sciences week at WPI.
Diversity in Action magazine highlighted WPI's new Master of Science program in Neuroscience, which was spearheaded and instituted by Jean King, Peterson Family dean of Arts and Sciences. "The program will provide students with a strong foundation in computational, molecular, psychological, quantitative and interdisciplinary approaches to neuroscience, and is 'just a good blend of all the things that we do readily already, and where neuroscience as a field is emerging and where it is going,'" King said.
The Telegram & Gazette's College Town led off with news of WPI hosting its second annual Women in Data Science Central Massachusetts Conference, a satellite event coinciding with the annual Global Women in Data Science Conference.
Dean Jean King, arts and sciences, was quoted in this Telegram & Gazette article about the third annual Next-in-Bio event at WPI, which attracted students from nine colleges and universities to present class projects and network with life sciences’ industry leaders.
The Telegram & Gazette reported on associate professor Adrienne Hall-Phillips of the Foisie Business School being a key player in getting the first Central Massachusetts chapter of The Links, Incorporated, a historic international association of black women. Arts & Humanities Dean Jean King is also a photographed in the article.
Jean King, the Peterson Family Dean of Arts & Sciences, was quoted in this article, following her panel presentation at the U.S. News & World Report STEM Solutions 2018 Conference.“There is a difference between awareness and action,” King said. “It was to take real effort” to bring women into STEM." In addition, Stephen Flavin, Vice President and Dean of Academic and Corporate Engagement, moderated a panel on 'Spurring Collaboration Between Industry and Higher Ed'.
