In the News

Note: Some media outlets require users to log-in. The Gordon Library offers the WPI community free access to a number of newspapers. Visit newspaper database for details.  

Preview Graphic celebrating top 100 women-led businesses in Massachusetts

The Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts in 2024

President Grace J. Wang was named to the annual list which was featured in The Boston Globe Magazine as part of its Women & Power issue. The list was created by The Women’s Edge, a nonprofit that supports female business leaders, and celebrates the state’s leading companies and nonprofit organizations led by women. The group examined 2023 revenue or operating budget as well as other variables and ranked organizations according to its own formula. 

WBUR 90.9

Humanities & arts professor Yunus Telliel was a guest on Radio Boston for a discussion on artificial intelligence. He shared insight on regulations surrounding the technology and the ethical questions we should be asking about A.I. "At the center of this conversation is what does it mean to be human," Telliel said. "The deeper question is not about A.I. It's about us." 

Worcester Business Journal

Research by professor of biology & biotechnology Inna Nechipurenko was featured in this Worcester Business Journal article. The professor's research focuses on the mysteries of tiny cellular structures and how they affect the development of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Boston Business Journal

Boston Business Journal reported on The Business School's new FinTech degree programs.

Worcester Business Journal

The Worcester Business Journal reported on The Business School's rollout of new bachelor's and master's FinTech degree programs.

CBS Boston

Social science and policy studies associate professor Erin Ottmar spoke with CBS Boston about how changes to spacing and color could make algebra easier.

Associated Press

Michael Ahern, instructor, and recently retired Director of Power Systems at WPI, provided analysis for an Associated Press report on the presence of uninsulated electrical wires in Maui before the devastating wildfires. The reporting on power line infrastructure and questions about the source of the fires was republished by hundreds of outlets including the Los Angeles Times, PBS NewsHour, Chicago Tribune, Yahoo! News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Politico.

Science

Brajendra Mishra, the Kenneth G. Merriam Professor of Mechanical & Materials Engineering and the Director of the Metals Processing Institute at WPI, is prominently quoted in this Science article which looks at the growing global problem of what to do with red mud, one of the most abundant industrial wastes on the planet. "The composition of [red mud] varies so much it means one [type of solution] will not work," says Mishra.

Spectrum News 1

Spectrum News 1 Worcester captured the sights and sounds of the traditional new student crossing of the Earle Bridge. The coverage was part of a story on the economic impact of colleges in Worcester.

Telegram.com

A WPI course on artificial intelligence and academic writing makes a Telegram & Gazette list of interesting and unusual classes offered at area colleges this fall.

Reuters

Fire protection engineering professors Albert Simeoni and James Urban were quoted in a Reuters Fact Check article on the dynamics of the devastating fires in Hawaii. They explain how wildfires spread and why some things in a burned area avoid damage when so much else is destroyed.

AFP (Agence France-Presse)

Agence France-Presse interviewed Purvi Shah, professor at The Business School, about the phenomenon behind the recent resurgence of items such as Barbie, Furbies, and Grimace. Shah has done extensive research in this area, even coining the term "nostalgic brand love", which is a main driver behind the newfound popularity. The original article was published in French and widely circulated to English media outlets such as MSN and Barron's.

WalletHub

Global health professor Tsitsi B. Masvawure provided analysis for this WalletHub article on uneven and lagging efforts in the U.S. to address gender inequality. She points out reasons why the country ranks poorly on many health metrics used to measure gender gaps. 

Government Technology

Computer science professor Neil Heffernan spoke with Government Technology about the public discussion over regulations of artificial intelligence. He explained why regulations could stifle research and development and lead to monopolization.

AFP Fact Check

Fire protection engineering professor Albert Simeoni was cited in the Agence France-Presse (AFP) Fact Check section about speculation surrounding the cause of the deadly Maui fire.

Simeoni stated, “You had all the conditions -- the fuel, the heat, the wind and the ignition sources -- to create a catastrophe.”

Universe Today

Research co-led by mathematical science professor Mayer Humi was featured in the Universe Today article. Humi developed the math models that shows an optimal trajectory that places the shuttle into an elliptical orbit and minimizes the thrust requirements. “This type of shuttle and trajectory, said Humi, is needed for any plans to establish a permanent Human presence on the Moon, but could also lead to a thriving Earth-Moon economy.”

 

Spectrum News 1

Robotics engineering professor Markus Nemitz is working to create soft robots, made of flexible materials, which can go where other robots, and humans, cannot. His work was highlighted in this report by Spectrum News 1 Worcester.

Worcester Business Journal

Imagine flexible robots that can dive, swim, climb, and crawl to assist in challenging search and rescue environments. This Worcester Business Journal article outlines the efforts by robotics engineering professor Markus Nemitz to develop them and to create an obstacle course to test the robots.

Los Angeles Times

Drought and high winds were major factors in the devastating Maui fire. In this Los Angeles Times article, fire protection engineering professor James Urban explains the dangerous combination and how flying embers can spread. The article was republished by more than 40 newspapers and digital outlets including the Philadelphia Inquirer, Houston Chronicle, Miami Herald, and Yahoo!

EnergyPortal.eu

Research led by chemical engineering professor Xiaowei Teng finds potential in using ions from seawater as a possible replacement for lithium in batteries. The published research is summarized in an article on EnergyPortal.eu    

Telegram.com

Recent WPI graduates Paul Pacheco and Elizabeth LeMay will be brand-new teachers in local classrooms this fall, and talked with the Telegram & Gazette about how WPI prepared them for their new careers, what they're looking forward to, and and what they're nervous about.