The Month in Photos: February 2021

March 5, 2021

It may be the shortest month of the year, but that doesn’t mean it’s not packed with everything from research and events to faculty awards and some adorable snow pals. So grab some discounted Valentine’s Day candy to share with your pod members and take a moment to catch up on what the WPI community was up to in February.

Microphone in hand, Wole Soboyejo delivers an address prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talk about a positive start to the new year: WPI’s own provost and senior vice president Wole Soboyejo was elected to the National Academy of Engineering and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in the same week! 

 

A screenshot of Mele Wendt smiling during a panel discussion.

The Global School’s yearlong Virtual Event Series continued with a focus on Oceania and how its lands are brought together by a desire and need to address climate change. The event also included two keynote speakers, former executive director for Fulbright New Zealand Mele Wendt and assistant professor of history Holger Droessler.

 

Kun-Ta Wu works in the lab while wearing PPE.

No matter what, the research doesn’t stop at WPI. Assistant professor of physics Kun-Ta Wu was recently awarded a $520,895 CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation to characterize and model how tiny amounts of “active” fluids move and flow while mixing together on their own.

 

A photo of Earle Bridge covered in snow with some greenery and sunlight.

As much as it may not feel like it some days, signs of spring are slowly but surely returning to New England.

 

Portraits of six faculty members honored for achievements.

When we say WPI students are taught by the best of the best, we mean it: eight faculty members were honored with awards celebrating their teaching, advising, and research excellence.

 

A photo of the flag at the beech tree at half-mast to honor those lost to COVID-19.

The WPI community honors and remembers those lost to COVID-19.

 

A photo of Kola Akindele smiling in a suit and tie.

Meet Kola Akindele, WPI’s Assistant Vice President of External Relations and Strategic Partnerships, whose work will continue to strengthen WPI’s critical connections within the local business community, Worcester City Hall, the Massachusetts State House, and on Capitol Hill. In the words of Donna Stock, vice president for advancement ad interim, “...[his] talents will be critical in helping to further elevate WPI’s position as a model for student success, a project-based pioneer and leader, and a globally engaged research university.”

 

A member of the WPI community receives a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

After receiving a limited vaccination supply from the state, WPI was able to vaccinate more than 400 eligible community members. While it’s currently unknown whether or not the university will receive additional supply, it’s our hope to be able to offer vaccinations to more community members in the near future.

 

A close-up of guitar strings.

It’s music to our ears—what started almost three years ago as an informal space to experiment with new ways of evolving the electric guitar, WPI’s Electric Guitar Innovation Lab is now doing work funded by the Les Paul Foundation, which supports music, music engineering, and sound programs.

 

A portrait of Naudin Oswell, WPI’s first Black graduate.

Naudin Oswell ‘30, WPI’s first Black graduate, was a leader in public housing in the United States as well as a trailblazer in the investment banking community. Read more about his remarkable story in the WPI Journal digital exclusive, “The Odyssey of Naudin Oswell, WPI’s First Black Graduate.”

 

A small snowman sits outside of Gateway Park.

So … do you want to build a snowman?

Department(s):
Physics|Biology & Biotechnology|Mechanical & Materials Engineering|Computer Science|Biomedical Engineering|Humanities & Arts|Robotics Engineering|Fire Protection Engineering|Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME)
Profile(s):
Winston Soboyejo|Kun-Ta Wu|Kola Akindele|V J Manzo|Elisabeth Anne Stoddard|Jagan Srinivasan|Sarah Jane Wodin-Schwartz|Gillian Margaret Smith|Kristin Boudreau|John M. Sullivan|Carlo Pinciroli

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