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WPI to research wildfires, from space
Astronauts on the International Space Station will perform experiments for a study led by James Urban, assistant professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering. A spacecraft carrying materials for the experiments was launched to the space station in August. Urban studies wildfires and believes the experiments in microgravity will provide insight on non-steady flame behavior and lead to better understanding of how wildfires spread on Earth. The research was featured in Are We There Yet? - The Space Exploration Podcast, Spaceflight Now, Spectrum News 1, Industry Wired, and MassLive.
BBC Earth featured the self-healing concrete developed by Associate Professor Nima Rahbar and Professor Suzanne Scarlata in an episode about climate-friendly ways to heat residential homes. The self-healing concrete uses an enzyme found in red blood cells to heal itself, thereby filling cracks before they cause larger structural issues.
Robotics Engineering Assistant Professor Jane Li spoke with WBZ News Radio (at the 00:17:24 mark) about the nursing robots she’s constructing. The robots are designed to help nurses care for patients who are in quarantine or isolation, and to help with other tasks, such as retrieving supplies and equipment.
The Chronicle of Higher Education spoke with Vice President of Enrollment Management Andrew Palumbo about the university’s admissions process since making the decision to go test blind.
WBZ News Radio was in the audience for the practicum performance of the class Music & Science, and spoke with Adjunct Teaching Professor David Ibbett about (at the 13:35:57 mark) the class and the student projects featured in the concert. The musical pieces blended scientific research, data, music, and the student experience in an interactive show that brought new perspectives to the topic
TheStreet spoke to Business School Assistant Professor Kenny Ching about the Security and Exchange Commission ruling that Meta (the company formerly known as Facebook) must give investors the opportunity to vote on the company’s move to focus on the metaverse. Prof. Ching said the case “will be a test for how society will eventually come to accept - or reject – the metaverse.”
The Christian Science Monitor spoke with Business School Associate Professor Renata Konrad about how she and her colleagues at WPI to help people affected by the war in Ukraine. Prof. Konrad also talked about she and other faculty members are remotely advising students in Ukraine.
NBC Boston and Spectrum News 1 covered the football team’s annual bone marrow donation drive. They spoke to Frank Almeida, ’24, who found out he was a match in 2021, and donated his bone marrow, likely saving the recipient’s life.
Financial news website TheStreet spoke with Assistant Professor Kenny Ching about how casinos will operate in the metaverse, including the main attractions and pitfalls of so-called crypto gambling.
Worcester Magazine wrote a feature article about Kyle Mikolajczyk, vice president of WPI's Model Train Club. The story not only highlights the creative and inclusive activity culture at WPI, but mentions what brought him to the university four years ago.
NBC News spoke with Vice President of Enrollment Management Andrew Palumbo about WPI’s decision to go test-blind in the admissions process, after MIT announced it would once again require standardized tests.
The Washington Post spoke with Vice President of Enrollment Management Andrew Palumbo about WPI’s test-blind policy, after MIT announced its decision to start accepting standardized test scores again.
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette spoke with Fulbright scholars Yuliia Kleban and Roman Mykhailyshyn, about the war in Ukraine and their efforts to help people affected by the conflict. Both Kleban and Mykhailyshyn are from Ukraine and completed their Fulbright scholarships at WPI, just weeks before the war began.
Vice President of Enrollment Management Andrew Palumbo spoke with The New York Times about MIT’s decision to reinstate its standardized testing requirement. He also spoke about WPI’s move to become a fully test-blind institution.
GBH spoke with Computer Science Professor Dmitry Korkin about how he has opened his home to the family of a Ukrainian professor, Vitaly Yurkiv, amid the war with Russia. Korkin is also working to help Yurkiv find work in the U.S. when Yurkiv is able to leave Ukraine.
Industry Dive spoke with Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering Associate Professor Nima Rahbar and Chemistry & Biochemistry Professor Suzanne Scarlata about their work to create an enzymatic construction material, which could be a sustainable alternative to concrete. The material removes carbon dioxide from the air during its formation and self-healing process.
WBUR spoke with Associate Professor of Business Renata Konrad (at the 7:33:40 mark) about her efforts to help the people of Ukraine, amid the Russian invasion. Professor Konrad talked about how she has organized donations of first aids and medical supplies, as well as the help and support she’s received from the WPI community.
Newsy spoke with Chemical Engineering Professor Mike Timko and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering Ali Salifu about their research that found bamboo can be converted into biofuel to power vehicles and generators.
Digital Engineering 24/7 spoke with Social Science & Policy Studies Professor Rob Krueger about sustainable design and the formalization of the Institute of Science and Technology for Development.
Anthropocene Magazine reported on the collaboration between Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering Associate Professor Nima Rahbar and Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry Suzanne Scarlata to produce a negative-emission construction material that absorbs CO2 and self-heals.
The Boston Globe spoke with Yuliia Kleban, an Assistant Professor at The Ukrainian Catholic University in L’viv, Ukraine, who recently completed a Fulbright scholarship at WPI. Kleban returned to her home country just weeks before Russia invaded. Business School Associate Professor Renata Konrad also completed a Fulbright during the same time, and swapped institutions and homes with Kleban.