What
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will host a unique, nonpartisan forum entitled “What’s at Stake: Why the WPI Community Should Vote,” that will feature thought-provoking perspectives from the university’s scientists and engineers – as well as key administrators -- on the importance of voting in the Nov. 4 presidential election. WPI faculty and staff will help campus community members to better understand how policy decisions impact government and political support and funding for research in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
Who
Each speaker will address the audience for five minutes. The panelists are:
- Grant McGimpsey, associate provost of research and graduate studies and director of WPI’s Bioengineering Institute, will discuss the importance of the political process for funding for scientific and engineering research.
- Glenn Gaudette and Marsha Rolle, assistant professors of biomedical engineering, will speak to the topic of stem cell research and politics.
- Robert Kinicki, professor of computer science, will address the issues of privacy and information security.
- Kristin Tichenor, vice president of enrollment management, will talk about some of the issues that affect the recruiting process, such as federal financial aid, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Act, reporting requirements, and other university admissions-related issues.
- Linda Carre Looft, assistant vice president of government and community relations, will talk about the role of universities in helping to shape public policy, and university relations at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Kent Rissmiller, associate dean of the Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division and professor of Social Science and Policy Studies, will moderate and manage questions from the audience following the presentations.
When
Monday, Oct. 6, 4 to 5 p.m.
Where
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Kinnicutt Hall
100 Institute Road
Worcester, Mass.
