When Inès Benmokhtar arrived at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) to pursue a master’s degree through the Science and Technology for Innovation in Global Development program, she was excited to find a space where her background in media, sustainability, and social science could come together with technical problem-solving. “I was drawn to WPI because of its unique interdisciplinary program that brings together engineering, global development, and social science,” Benmokhtar explained.
That blend of perspectives has already led to impressive academic success. “I’m especially proud of my performance in data science and materials science classes, technically intensive courses that challenged me to apply critical thinking in new ways, and earning a dean’s list scholarship,” she said. “I’m currently working on two projects that I am especially passionate about—both of which explore how data and communication can serve equity,” she shared.
For Benmokhtar, this combination of technical and social impact will help with her long-term career goals. “I plan to build on my work in policy communication and community outreach by developing tools or strategies that help translate regulatory or technical information into formats that are easily understood and usable by diverse communities,” she said.
Benmokhtar is currently an environmental justice fellow at the Massachusetts Office of Environmental Justice and Equity. Looking ahead, she hopes to apply her skills in a full-time role focused on climate policy, data analysis, and environmental justice, ideally in partnership with international organizations or agencies like the United Nations.
Benmokhtar credits mentorship for playing a major role in her journey at WPI. “Dr. Robert Krueger has been incredibly influential, a great mentor, professor, and leader,” she emphasized. “Through his leadership at InSTeD [Institute of Science and Technology for Development], I’ve been able to explore how technology, policy, and social science can be combined to co-create innovative, just, and scalable solutions. His encouragement to engage with complexity and community-centered thinking has had a lasting impact on my academic and career goals.”
While the program has been rewarding, Benmokhtar admits it hasn’t always been easy. “One of the challenges I encountered was adapting to a STEM-focused academic environment while coming from a media and social science background,” she reflected.
In the end, those challenges have led to growth and perspective. “It has been incredibly rewarding to be in a space surrounded by data science and engineering experts, and working together to develop data-informed solutions to complex global challenges,” she said.
WPI is proud to support students like Benmokhtar, whose passion and dedication bring fresh perspectives to global challenges. We wish her all the best when she graduates this month!