In the News
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Interactive Media and Game Development Professor Explains Mystery House Games
Melissa Kagen, assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Interactive Media and Game Development was quoted in a New York Times review of the new video game "Blue Prince."
As the author of the book "Wandering Games," Kagen shared her insight into the aspects of mystery house games like "Blue Prince" that captivate players.
In its College Town section, The Telegram & Gazette noted the roles of WPI robotics engineering professor Marko Popovic and undergraduates Mia Buccowich ’22, Andy Strauss ’23 and Brian Fay ’22 in helping to develop a partial hand prosthetic for University of Houston student Payton Heiberger.
WBZ-CBS Boston interviewed President Leshin for its report. “A total Wright brothers moment on the red planet” is how she referred to recent events involving the NASA Mars helicopter Ingenuity, a project to demonstrate that controlled flight, like an airplane or a helicopter, is feasible on Mars. “The technology that we invent to do things like fly a helicopter on Mars will have direct impact to improve life on earth."
Numerous media outlets reported on the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDigi), the award-winning center for academic cooperation, entrepreneurship, and economic development across the Massachusetts video games ecosystem, moving to WPI this summer.
Marco Kaltofen, associate research engineer, was quoted in the DeSmog article. “At 5,800 microrems an hour, it would take only about two days to get your typical ANNUAL dose of industrial/medical radiation,” Kaltofen stated, referencing dose limits set by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the nuclear and medical industries.
Numerous media outlets reported on the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDigi), the award-winning center for academic cooperation, entrepreneurship, and economic development across the Massachusetts video games ecosystem, moving to WPI this summer.
Numerous media outlets reported on the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDigi), the award-winning center for academic cooperation, entrepreneurship, and economic development across the Massachusetts video games ecosystem, moving to WPI this summer.
WPI robotics engineering professor Marko Popovic discusses the work of a WPI student team that is building a partial hand prosthetic for University of Houston student Payton Heiberger. “She’s thinking about moving the thumb in a certain direction, and then is succeeding,” he said. Heiberger added that “the WPI team showed me (a partial prosthetic) is possible.”
In a two-minute feature piece, WPI robotics engineering professor Marko Popovic and undergraduates Mia Buccowich ’22, Andy Strauss ’23 and Brian Fay ’22 discuss their roles in helping to develop a partial hand prosthetic for University of Houston student Payton Heiberger. “The (WPI) team has been amazing at just helping me get through this situation and helping me stay super positive,” said Heiberger.
Boston 25 (Fox) News interviewed Shichao Liu, assistant professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, (18:24:31 mark) for a report on energy saving homes. “If you think about energy consumption reduction in the future to save the planet, then we have to look at the consumption by buildings. Using passive house standards, we can significantly reduce energy consumption by buildings.”
WPI robotics engineering professor Marko Popovic and undergraduates Mia Buccowich ’22, Andy Strauss ’23 and Brian Fay ’22 are featured in a story about their role in developing a partial hand prosthetic for University of Houston student Payton Heiberger.
As colleges continue to grapple with the impact of COVID-19, Times Higher Ed takes a look at how schools will move forward. The article singles out WPI stating “Worcester Polytechnic Institution (sic) is likely to emerge stronger from the recession by continuing to build its core competencies.”
Martha Stewart Living cited work by Associate Chemical Engineering Professor Michael Timko in their online article. “What do you get when you mix food and yard waste? Hopefully a new eco-friendly source of biofuel. Michael Timko, a professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Worcester, Massachusetts, is working on a project—being funded by the Department of Energy to the tune of almost $2 million—to mix food waste with municipal green waste, such as yard trimmings, leaves, and sticks. By combining the two kinds of waste, Timko is aiming to create even more energy-dense oil that can be upgraded to a liquid biofuel.”
The Hechinger Report published an opinion piece by Andrew Palumbo, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management & Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid. “If universities care about all students, they must better align admissions processes with their distinctive missions, values and goals while also eliminating the inequities that standardized test scores reinforce,” he wrote. “In March, faculty at WPI overwhelmingly adopted an eight-year test-blind pilot, transitioning from 13 years of test-optional admissions to a process that will not consider test scores for admission or financial aid. Importantly, this vote eliminated the antiquated use of SAT and ACT test scores because faculty recognize that they are poor predictors of college success, and they introduce and reinforce inequities that our university is committed to eliminating.”
The Worcester Business Journal reported on WPI creating a Master’s in Cyber Security, a new graduate program that prepares students to be leaders in the fields of cyber security and computer science. The program launches in fall 2021 and applications are currently being accepted. “We recognize that the workforce needs professionals who can combine technical expertise in security with an understanding of its impact on people and businesses,” Craig Shue, associate professor of computer science, said in a statement.
Rodica Neamtu, associate teaching professor of computer science, was quoted in a Worcester Magazine article on her students developing an iOS phone app for Worcester-based nonprofit Audio Journal. “I realized that this was going to be something bigger than creating a nice app,” Neamtu said, referring to the project the students did as part of their Major Qualifying Project (MQP).
WPI civil and environmental engineer Jeanine Dudle and global studies professor Sarah Strauss spoke with Doug Parsons, host of the popular “America Adapts” climate change podcast, about WPI’s new Community Climate Adaptation graduate program. The program will provide value for students through a unique participatory experience and generate a strong foundation for faculty research and enhanced community impacts.
The Worcester Business Journal noted WPI in their article on WPI’s move to change to fully “test-blind” admissions, which will begin with the Fall 2021 application cycle and supports WPI’s mission of expanding access to a high-quality STEM education to all students.
WPI was included in the Worcester Business Journal editorial for offering to help displaced students within Becker College’s Interactive Media program. WPI and Becker have signed an agreement that provides these students an opportunity to complete their degrees at WPI.
The Worcester Business Journal included WPI in their article, which detailed funding to area colleges and universities under the latest federal pandemic aid program.
Provost and Senior Vice President Wole Soboyejo was quoted in the News Ghana article on a memorandum of understanding signed by WPI and Academic City University College for academic collaboration to implement an accelerated master’s degree and exchange programs.