WPI Experts

WPI experts can speak about the effects of extreme summer heat.

Shichao Liu is exploring the negative impact on emotions when people are exposed to extremely hot indoor conditions. He can also speak about research he has done on how heat in classrooms and cars impact cognition and performance. 

Nancy Ma studies architectural and building design choices and their impact on indoor environment and residents’ health. She can explain how certain building designs meant to moderate temperatures can actually end up trapping dangerously hot air inside during extended heat waves.

Stephen McCauley is exploring why certain urban areas are so much warmer than others. He’s working with students to use the results of research that mapped heat trends in Worcester, Massachusetts to suggest heat resilience interventions like tree planting and building improvements. 

As demand for electric vehicles and energy storage systems accelerates worldwide, researchers at WPI are developing a new approach to lithium-ion battery recycling that could help transform how critical battery materials are recovered, reused, and returned to the manufacturing pipeline. 

Supported by a $1 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy, the project, led by Professor Yan Wang will develop a one-step molten salt upcycling process that transforms spent nickel cathodes into high-performance material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.