In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Erin Solovey, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science, introduces the concept of “thinking with AI,” a vision of human-centered intelligent systems designed as collaborative partners that enhance decision-making and creativity. She also discusses her research that seeks to make technology more intuitive and responsive. Solovey’s work lies at the intersection of AI, human-computer interaction, and neuroscience and is focused on how people interact with artificial intelligence.
Related links:
Human-Computer Interaction Lab
Interacting with AI at Work: Perceptions and Opportunities from the UK Judiciary
In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Erin Solovey, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science, introduces the concept of “thinking with AI,” a vision of human-centered intelligent systems designed as collaborative partners that enhance decision-making and creativity. She also discusses her research that seeks to make technology more intuitive and responsive. Solovey’s work lies at the intersection of AI, human-computer interaction, and neuroscience and is focused on how people interact with artificial intelligence.
Related links:
Human-Computer Interaction Lab
Interacting with AI at Work: Perceptions and Opportunities from the UK Judiciary
In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Erin Solovey, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science, introduces the concept of “thinking with AI,” a vision of human-centered intelligent systems designed as collaborative partners that enhance decision-making and creativity. She also discusses her research that seeks to make technology more intuitive and responsive. Solovey’s work lies at the intersection of AI, human-computer interaction, and neuroscience and is focused on how people interact with artificial intelligence.
Related links:
Human-Computer Interaction Lab
Interacting with AI at Work: Perceptions and Opportunities from the UK Judiciary
Chronic pain affects millions of Americans and too often leads to dependence on opioids for relief. But what if doctors could predict, before writing a prescription, whether a patient would respond better to non-drug therapies like meditation?
This episode explores groundbreaking research at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) that combines neuroscience, data science, and artificial intelligence to personalize pain treatment with guests Benjamin Nephew, assistant research professor, biology and biotechnology, and Emmanuel Agu, Harold L. Jurist ’61 and Heather E. Jurist Dean’s Professor of Computer Science.
The study “Integrative Mindfulness-based Predictive Approach for Chronic low back pain Treatment" or IMPACT is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) initiative.
Meet a WPI alum who first visited campus in middle school and keeps coming back! In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Em Beeler ’22 discusses her journey to becoming a high school math teacher in Worcester and how her story is deeply intertwined with the university. From early exposure to math and science at WPI and a career-shaping opportunity to join WPI’s Teacher Preparation Program to post-graduation experiences on campus to further her professional skills and share her knowledge with the next generation, Beeler carries the lessons learned at the university into her work teaching and guiding her students.
Related links:
WPI Teacher Preparation Program
Research Experience for Teachers Program
Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs
Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science
WPI’s new Explosion Protection Engineering program—the first of its kind in the U.S.—is training the next generation of engineers to tackle one of today’s most urgent safety challenges: explosions. In this episode, hear from a student and faculty member about how the program, created in part by Fire Protection Engineering professor Ali Rangwala, blends disciplines and real-world problem solving to protect lives and industries.
The future of money isn't minted, it's coded—and every time you deposit a check on your phone or send money via an app, you're actively using financial technology or "fintech." On this episode of The WPI Podcast, Kwamie Dunbar, Interim Dean of The WPI Business School and Professor of Finance, walks us through blockchain, cryptocurrency, and how artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the future of finance. As the first university in the U.S. to offer fintech degrees at every level of study, we'll also discuss the unique and exciting experiences our students have, including a yearly trip to center of the financial world—the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wall Street.
Rest is often overlooked in the race for academic achievement, but science shows it may be one of the most powerful tools for success. This podcast explores the vital role rest plays in learning, creativity, focus, and long-term well-being. We dive into the ways sleep, downtime, and intentional pauses can boost memory, sharpen problem-solving skills, and prevent burnout. Whether it’s power naps, digital detoxes, or building a healthier relationship with time, listeners will discover practical strategies to rest smarter and perform better.
Researchers across departments at WPI are studying how wildfires start, spread, and impact communities. In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Nan (Nancy) Ma, assistant professor, and Rachel Hurley, PhD candidate, both in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, discuss their work to understand the impacts of wildfire smoke on indoor environments. Ma studies the effects of smoke exposure on children’s sleep health. Hurley conducts research on how building materials found indoors absorb and re-emit smoke particles. This is the second of two episodes focused on wildfire-related research at WPI. See Episode 13 for a discussion with researchers in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering about their studies on wildfire behavior.
Related links:
Published study referred to in Nancy Ma interview
EPA information on protecting yourself from wildfire smoke indoors
From perfectly coordinated Pinterest boards to last-minute duffel bag packers, this episode dives into the highs, lows, and hilarious moments of living on campus. The director of WPI's housing and residential experience center shares insider tips, real-life stories, and advice for students and parents navigating the exciting new world of college housing.
Researchers across departments at WPI are studying how wildfires start, spread, and impact communities. In this episode of The WPI Podcast, James Urban, assistant professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering, and Albert Simeoni, professor and head of the Department of Fire Protection Engineering, discuss their research on fire behavior and how they’re working to share the knowledge generated from this research to protect people and property.
This is the first of two episodes focused on wildfire-related research at WPI. In the next episode on the topic, researchers in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering will talk about their work to understand the impacts of wildfire smoke on indoor environments, with a focus on children’s sleep health and the absorption of smoke by building materials.
Related links:
Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center
National Fire Protection Association: Firewise USA (wildfire risk reduction program)
Discover how WPI's industrial legacy is fueling the future of advanced manufacturing. In this episode, a WPI materials science professor breaks down how cutting-edge tech—from AI to sustainable materials—is transforming the way we make things. Whether you're a curious listener or a future innovator, tune in to explore part of the next industrial revolution.
The emerging field of climate robotics is bringing together researchers, industry, and government partners to develop technological solutions to challenges that include environmental monitoring, disaster response and mitigation, and climate adaptation.
In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Berk Calli, an associate professor in the Robotics Engineering Department, discusses WPI research projects and educational offerings in this area, the efforts to grow the field, and the importance of human-robot collaboration.
Related links:
In this episode, we explore how music and technology come together in powerful and unexpected ways at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Our guest, Professor Frederick Bianchi, is a world-renowned expert in music technology and a pioneer in virtual performance environments. He shares how WPI’s innovative programs in both music and music technology challenge traditional boundaries and prepare students to become the next generation of creative technologists. From synthesizers to AI-generated compositions, and from immersive audio to real-time performance solutions, we dive into the cutting-edge work happening at the crossroads of art and engineering. Whether you're a musician, a technologist, or just curious about how creativity and code collide, this conversation will strike a chord.
Related story mentioned in podcast: The Brain on Jazz
At WPI, the “S” in STEM sometimes stands for Shakespeare! In this episode, we’re diving into how the Bard’s brilliant wordplay, unforgettable characters, and big ideas connect with the same curiosity and creativity that drive science, tech, engineering, and math.
For Fatimah Daffaie ’25, the path to studying at Worcester Polytechnic Institute involved early years living in Iraq, exposure to engineering while in high school in Worcester, and a pre-collegiate experience on the WPI campus.
In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Daffaie shares her experience as a biomedical engineering student, including how she completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just four years through the BS/MS program, an accelerated degree pathway.
She talks about the support she received as a recipient of a Great Minds CoMPASS Scholarship, which is available to eligible first-generation students from Worcester Public Schools who attend WPI. She also discusses the lessons she learned through serving as a member of Crimson Key, a group of student tour guides who assist prospective students and families during campus visits, and in the Engineering Ambassadors program, which allows college students to share their passion for STEM and inspire future engineers by engaging with K–12 students.
You may also read the transcript below.
Infamous for being a “weed-out” course in college, organic chemistry is so hard it can scare off students from pursuing careers in medicine, biology, materials science, and dentistry. In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Anita Mattson, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, talks about a new series of graphic novels she created with United Kingdom-based illustrator Anton Brand to help students navigate the chemistry of carbon. As Mattson puts it, whether you’re a struggling student, a curious nerd, or just someone who enjoys a good acid-base joke, this could be for you. You may also read the transcript below.
This academic year, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is celebrating 50 years of the Global Projects Program. Through the program, students conduct academic and research projects off campus at more than 50 WPI project centers on six continents for entire terms at a time. In this episode of The WPI Podcast, the co-directors of WPI’s Melbourne, Australia, Project Center share their experience and reflections on what these off-campus projects mean for students, project sponsors, and themselves. Guests: Lorraine Higgins, a teaching professor, and Stephen McCauley, an associate professor of teaching, are both in the Department of Integrative and Global Studies at WPI. You may also read the transcript below.
In this episode, we highlight Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Sustainable Career Mentorship Program that gives students who are interested in sustainability an opportunity to connect one-on-one with professionals working in green jobs or sustainable fields. Guest Elisabeth “Lisa” Stoddard, one of the program organizers, is an associate professor of teaching of environmental and sustainability studies and in The Global School at WPI.
Announcement: https://www.wpi.edu/news/announcements/wpi-podcast-explores-mentorship-program-students-interested-sustainability
WPI's special Charles Dickens collections are an unlikely niche at an institution better known for robotics, computer science, and engineering. The Daniel and Alice Ryan Collection, The Robert D. Fellman Collection, the Fred Guida Audio/Visual Collection of Charles Dickens and other donations have helped WPI establish itself as a vital source of information about the towering 19th century literary figure.
On this episode of The WPI Podcast, we talk with resident Dickens scholar Joel Brattin, professor of humanities and arts, about the Dickens collections at WPI and "A Christmas Carol," the author's singular story of redemption that has been ingrained in popular culture from the moment it hit bookshelves in December 1843. Listen to hear the conversation, or read a transcript below.
Richard Lopez, assistant professor of neuroscience and psychology in the Department of Social Science and Policy Studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), explains that social interaction, learning things over time, and even confusion and failure are all crucial processes that need to be practiced and preserved as we enter a new age of artificial intelligence. Listen to the conversation; you may also read a transcript below.
Erica Brozovsky, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Humanities & Arts at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), helps listeners explore the history of words and the unique factors that determine how people speak the way they do. Brozovsky is a sociolinguist who teaches writing and rhetoric. Listen to hear the conversation, or read the transcript.