Interactive Qualifying Project

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The Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) is one of the most distinctive elements of the WPI Plan and WPI’s signature project-based curriculum, giving every WPI student the experience of working in interdisciplinary teams to solve a problem or need that lies at the intersection of science and society. 

Unlike an academic course, this nine-credit-hour requirement involves students working in teams, with students not in their major, to tackle an issue that relates science, engineering, and technology to society. Sustainability serves as a common theme for IQPs, many of which address problems related to energy, environment, sustainable development, education, cultural preservation, and technology policy.

Lifelong Impact of Projects
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Be Immersed. WPI in the World.

Participating in a global experience is an invaluable part of a WPI education, which is why we’re excited and proud to announce that beginning with the Class of 2022, all students will receive a scholarship up to $5,000 to complete a global project. Improve water efficiency in pueblos in New Mexico or identify solutions for traffic congestion in Acadia National Park in Maine—both are examples of how WPI students have created change in their own lives and the world through their IQPs. Whether you decide on a project center across the city or across the world, It’s the experience that takes you further, and we can’t wait to see where yours will take you.

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A Degree Requirement that Changes Students, and the World

Through the IQP, WPI science, engineering, and business students immerse themselves in problems of societal importance—problems that matter to people and communities. They bring ingenious approaches to an astounding array of challenges—and the projects fundamentally change the students, building leaders who possess passion, proficiency, and a certainty that their life’s work can change the world.

Making a Difference Near and Far

On-Campus

Here on campus, students engage in IQPs working closely with faculty advisors or through one of our on-campus project centers that bring together groups of IQP teams and advisors with similar project topics. Examples include energy, water and transportation projects focused on making sustainability a daily part of campus life. Search for other on-campus opportunities. 

In Local Communities

Through the IQP, students can make a huge social and economic impact right here in Massachusetts. A number of students engage in IQPs at our local project centers in Worcester, Springfield, Boston, and Nantucket.  One local publication in Nantucket, N Magazine talks about the impact WPI students have on this local community.

Around the Globe

Through the Global Projects Program (GPP), students collaborate with faculty advisors, sponsors, and community members to complete IQPs at one of our many Project Centers around the globe, including New Zealand, Thailand, and Cape Town, South Africa.

President’s IQP Award

The President's IQP Awards recognize the student teams whose conception, performance and presentation of their Interactive Qualifying Project has been judged outstanding in focusing on the relationships among science, technology, and the needs of society. 

President's IQP Award Recipients
The WPI students provided an invaluable resource to the Department of Conservation, New Zealand. They provided insight into the public perception surrounding the critically endangered Maui’s dolphin, while working to improve public knowledge.
  • William Arlidge
  • The Marine Species and Threats Team, Department of Conservation
  • WPI Project Sponsor
Identifying an information need
  • Deconstructing a research question and identifying its key concepts.
  • Identifying and developing a focused research topic or research problem.
  • Generating keywords and synonyms for key research concepts.
  • Recognizing that information needs evolve throughout the research process.
  • Identifying stakeholders and their information needs.
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For $5,000, we had a WPI project team identify emerging fire safety issues with the rise of green building technologies. We re-wrote the project report in the form of a grant application and won a $500,000 Department of Homeland Security grant.
  • Roy W. Deppa, P.E.
  • National Association of State Fire Marshals
  • WPI Project Sponsor
The Coast Guard was under tremendous pressure to produce a report to Congress mandated by the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Act of 1988. The WPI project team developed recommendations to Congress on behalf of the Coast Guard.
  • M. M. Rosecrans, Captain
  • U.S Coast Guard (Ret.)
  • WPI Project Sponsor
This project was a great success. The students' plan will serve as a blueprint for all the other areas where we intend to build more community centers. The impact on this poverty-stricken community has been significant.
  • Dianne Womersley
  • The Shaster Foundation
  • WPI Project Sponsor

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) Center focuses on helping students’ innovative ideas turn into reality through funding and mentoring of Interactive Qualifying Projects. The Center also serves as a project collaboration space to support student IQP work.

Global Impact

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Making a Difference in Armenia

Through a partnership with the American University of Armenia and driven by alum Mike Aghajanian '80, WPI students have worked on projects that make an impact at one of WPI's newer project centers. 

Read more in the WPI Journal
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A Sweet, Interdisciplinary Experience

The Switzerland Project Center is one of the few to host both Interactive Qualifying Projects (IQP) and Major Qualifying Projects (MQP).

Read more in the WPI Journal
New Hampshire map

White Mountains, New Hampshire Project Center

Building Confidence While Helping the Environment

Read more in the WPI Journal
globe

WPI’s First Project Center

WPI's Washington DC project center celebrates its 50th year

Read more in the WPI Journal
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Student Project: Living With Fracking in Albania

This student team won first place in the President's IQP Awards for their project highlighting fracking's impact on women in Albania

Read more in the University Magazine

WPI Student and Alumni Impact

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Protecting Endangered Cultures

With discarded laptops from corporate America, Ted Hein ’88 helps preserve indigenous cultures in Latin America, while narrowing the digital divide.

Read more in the WPI Journal
woman

Safe Space

Celena Dopart ’12 brings humanity to human space flight.

Read more in the WPI Journal
man and woman

Transformed by, and Grateful for, the WPI Plan

Nancy and Mike Abrams ’77 continue their generous philanthropic legacy by supporting capital projects

Read more in the WPI Journal
woman on beach

Sol Giesso ’23, MS ’24

Educating and Empowering to Fight Climate Change

Read more in the WPI Journal
Blaise

Blaise Schroeder '23

Blaise Understands Everyone Has a Story

Read more in the WPI Journal
Preview Garcia

Q&A with Rosanna Garcia, Paul R. Beswick Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Professor Garcia answers questions about the entrepreneurial culture of WPI

Read more in the WPI Journal

News

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Faculty Snapshot

Dominic Golding

Learn more about the teaching professor of The Global School and director of the London and Nantucket project centers

Read more in the WPI Journal

Donor Profile

two men

Hans Koehl ’56

Son honors father’s philanthropic wishes at WPI

Read more in the WPI Journal

Media Coverage

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Nantucket Current
WPI Students Evaluating Nantucket Community Pool Usage

As part of their Interactive Qualifying Project, four students at WPI's Nantucket Project Center are conducting a survey about usage of the Nantucket Community Pool. The project, in partnership with the Nantucket Community School, is one of 89 projects that WPI students have conducted at the project center since 2008 in collaboration with local organizations and town officials. “These projects have covered a wide variety of topics in areas such as energy conservation, museum studies, parks and recreation, coastal erosion, parking, sustainable agriculture, affordable housing, facilities management, light pollution, and town trees," said Nantucket Project Center Director Dominic Golding.

 

Additional Publications: The Inquirer and Mirror
Nantucket Current
WPI Students Evaluating Nantucket Community Pool Usage

As part of their Interactive Qualifying Project, four students at WPI's Nantucket Project Center are conducting a survey about usage of the Nantucket Community Pool. The project, in partnership with the Nantucket Community School, is one of 89 projects that WPI students have conducted at the project center since 2008 in collaboration with local organizations and town officials. “These projects have covered a wide variety of topics in areas such as energy conservation, museum studies, parks and recreation, coastal erosion, parking, sustainable agriculture, affordable housing, facilities management, light pollution, and town trees," said Nantucket Project Center Director Dominic Golding.

 

Additional Publications: The Inquirer and Mirror
Nantucket Current
Town Pilots New Streetlights On Main Street To Combat Light Pollution

Nantucket is working in partnership with four WPI students and the non-profit Nantucket Lights on a project to reduce light pollution. As part of the students’ Interactive Qualifying Project, the students will take feedback from residents on new LED streetlights and potential future lighting decisions as part of the town's adoption of an outdoor lighting by-law.

Additional Publications: The Inquirer and Mirror
Nantucket Current
Town Pilots New Streetlights On Main Street To Combat Light Pollution

Nantucket is working in partnership with four WPI students and the non-profit Nantucket Lights on a project to reduce light pollution. As part of the students’ Interactive Qualifying Project, the students will take feedback from residents on new LED streetlights and potential future lighting decisions as part of the town's adoption of an outdoor lighting by-law.

Additional Publications: The Inquirer and Mirror
Integrative & Global Studies
Student Project Resources
Project Database