In partnership with the DS Council, game night is offered once a month and open to all DS affiliated students- including NRT CEDAR Trainees. 

In partnership with the DS Council at WPI, the “Coffee Klatch” is offered weekly on Fridays and open to all DS affiliated students. These informal meetings are a way for the data science community to get together and socialize over a “Bring Your Own” (BYO) lunch. They’re a great opportunity for students and faculty to get to know each other better, and to even get guidance from colleagues about course scheduling, research, etc. Best of all – free coffee for everyone. 

Hosted by Graduate Studies, the Graduate Student and Training Readiness Sessions – STARS – is an annual series of workshops organized by the Office of Graduate Studies that provides overviews on important career and professional development topics. 

Registration is required for each session. 

The 2022 Fall STARS Sessions include:

• September 16, 2022 – Navigating a career fair
• October 7, 2022 – Developing Cultural Competencies
• October 28, 2022 – Business Development Skills
• November 11, 2022 – Finding and Securing Internships

WPI IDP series is an annual workshop series for WPI graduate students to learn how to effectively manage their careers through the development of an IDP. The program is intended for PhD students and postdocs, however masters students are welcome to participate as well. The program will focus on self-assessment, career exploration, networking, and goal setting. 

Dates and times for the 2022 Fall IDP program are: 

• 10/25/2022 Workshop 1: Career management, self-assessment, and IDPs 
• 11/1/2022 Workshop 2: Career exploration, informational interviewing, and networking
• 11/8/2021 Workshop 3: Goal setting, self-advocacy/promotion, and obtaining mentoring needed 

 Click here for more information and to register. 

“Climate Resilience and Conflict: Is Regional Cooperation a Way Forward?”

• Date/Time: Tuesday, October 11th, 11:00AM – Noon
• Overview: Invited speaker Tareq Abu Hamed serves as the Director of the Arava Institute and a researcher at the Dead Sea and Arava Science Center. The title of his talk is “Climate Resilience and Conflict: Is Regional Cooperation a Way Forward?”

“Circular Economy & Safety Implications”

• Date/Time: Thursday, October 13th, 10:00AM – 11:00AM
• Overview: CEDAR PhD Student Zhuowen Chen from the WPI Business School focuses her research on the lithium-ion battery supply chain, especially the end-of-life management of these batteries.In this talk, she explores safety concerns for the management of End-of Life Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The Graduate Research Innovation Exchange is a marketplace where students across disciplines get to know each other and share discoveries and new ideas. It is also a great way to get feedback on research in-progress—input that can help students prepare for sharing their work down the line through papers and presentations.

• GRIE is open to all WPI PhD candidates, MS students engaged in thesis or similar research, or MS candidates completing a course- or program-related capstone project.
• The Student Training and Readiness Sessions (STARS) program (as listed above) developed by the Office of Graduate Studies offers sessions specifically designed to help graduate students prepare for participation in GRIE.

CEDAR Seminar Series

Eric & Sarah – Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Stratton Hall 205

• Eric’s talk is focused on “Deep Learning Models for Material Property Prediction”
• Sarah’s talk is focused on “Uncovering the genetic basis of transformation efficiency in Kluyveromyces marxianus with comparative omics”

Julian & Maddie – Thursday, Dec 5, 1:00pm – 2:00pm, CC Morgan 208 Conference Room

• Julian’s talk will focus on ““Understanding the fate of sulfur in hydrothermal liquefaction of sewage sludge”
• Maddie’s talk (TBD, coming soon)

Jan. 31, 2024 – Sustainability Seminar Series ft. the Circular Economy

The Business School is hosting a Sustainability Seminar Series featuring 4 short presentations directly related to circular economy research and practice.

Date: January 31st, 2024

Time: 3:00PM – 5:00PM

Location: Olin 107

Feb. 23, 2024 – Digitalization and Operations and Supply Chain Sustainability: A Logistics Perspective – Prof. Erik Flores Garcia

Friday, February 23, 2024 1:30 PM-2:30 PM.

Digitalization and Operations and Supply Chain Sustainability: A Logistics Perspective – Prof. Erik Flores Garcia

Prof Erik Flores Garcia, A Visiting Scholar from the Department of Production Engineering of the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden.

Prof. Garcia will share findings intersection of digital technologies, operations and supply chain sustainability with a logistics focus. He has worked with industry in Sweden and hw will talk about real-world examples describing how digital technologies enhance the performance operations and supply chains through logistics. He will share recent findings and describe how sustainability plays a role when applying digital technologies to the movement of materials and information.  He will also touch upon the joint international project funded by the EU and including WPI on the topic of SME 5.0.

May 28 – The Challenges of Chemistry in the Circular Economy

Please see the attached flyer for an upcoming virtual talk related to the circular economy on May 28^th @ 1:00PM EDT. One of our faculty, Prof. Anita Mattson, will be contributing to the discussion!

Visit here for more information if interested: https://www.degruyter.com/publishing/about-us/about-dg/digital-events

Mar. 29, 2024 – Circularity and Zero Waste: Transdisciplinary Perspectives

Join us for this exciting panel featuring TWO of our NRT CEDAR Faculty on Friday, March 29^th at 8:00AM EDT. This webinar will focus on the topic of Circularity and Zero Waste: Transdisciplinary Perspectives. Please see the flyer below or visit the website for additional information on each of the panel speakers.

This event will take place via zoom: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/96413237986

WEBSITE: Circularity and Zero Waste: Transdisciplinary Perspectives | Systems of Sustainable Consumption and Production (futureearth.org)

Jun 6, 2024 – AI for Nature: From Science to Impact

Please join the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO) and Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) for a Distinguished Lecture from Tanya Berger-Wolf, PhD, Professor of Computer Science Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at the Ohio State University.

The lecture will be on Jun 6, 2024 from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM ET. Please register at https://nsf.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_T68N7eLhSsmCUYD5V8gFQg (please note that although the registration page notes the webinar will open at 10:30am ET, the lecture will begin at 11am ET).

AI for Nature: From Science to Impact

Abstract
Computation has fundamentally changed the way we study nature. New data collection technology, such as GPS, high-definition cameras, UAVs, genotyping, and crowdsourcing, are generating data about wild populations that are orders of magnitude richer than any previously collected. AI can turn these data into high resolution information source about living organisms, enabling scientific inquiry, conservation, and policy decisions.

The talk will introduce a new field of science, imageomics, and present a vision and examples of AI as a trustworthy partner both in science and biodiversity conservation, discussing opportunities and challenges.

*The work presented has been in large part supported by NSF over the last 20 years, including most recently the Imageomics Institute (NSF-2118240) and the AI and Biodiversity Change Global Climate Center (NSF-2330423).

About Tanya Berger-Wolf
Dr. Tanya Berger-Wolf is a Professor of Computer Science Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at the Ohio State University, where she is also the Director of the Translational Data Analytics Institute. As a computational ecologist, her research is at the unique intersection of computer science, AI, wildlife biology, and social sciences.

Berger-Wolf is a member of the US National Academies Board on Life Sciences, US National Committee for the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS),  and the Advisory Committee for the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) AI on Biodiversity working group, among many others.

Berger-Wolf is also a co-founder of the AI for conservation non-profit Wild Me (now part of the Conservation X Labs), home of the Wildbook project, which has been chosen by UNSECO as one of the 100 AI projects worldwide supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Aug. 31, 2023- NRT CEDAR Welcome

On behalf of NRT CEDAR, we would like to invite you to the NRT CEDAR Welcome Event.

Topic: NRT CEDAR Welcome/Orientation

Host: PI Elke Rundensteiner & Project Coordinator Kelsey Briggs

Overview: Provide an overview of CEDAR expectations, upcoming events, meet & greet

Room Reservation: Morgan Conference Room 208, Campus Center

Date: Thursday, August 31, 2023 from 12:00PM – 1:00PM EST

Aug. 31, 2023 – Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) for the Circular Economy: Evidence from Japanese Companies

Wednesday, Aug. 30th, 2023
12:00PM – 12:50PM
Atwater Kent 233

Qi Wu
Associate Professor
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
Kyoto University of Advanced Science

Profile:
Currently, my work is focused on establishing an environmental management control system towards the circular economy. I previously worked on the research project of Environment Research and Technology Development Fund, which has been led by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment since 2016 to research “Policy Design and Evaluation to Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns in Asian Region”. This project investigated and compared the development of effective environmental management control systems in companies in Thailand and Vietnam. It also examined environmental management control systems’ positive impact on promoting sustainable consumption and production policies within organizations. Since 2019, my main areas of expertise have included environmental management control systems, sustainability accounting, natural capital accounting, circular economy, and SDGs.

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to address the question of whether Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) can contribute to the circular economy. MFCA is an environmental management accounting tool that simultaneously assesses a company’s material and financial flows. It is expected to contribute to the circular economy by helping companies achieve environmental and economic goals through resource efficiency. In short, the anticipated linkages between MFCA, companies’ environmental and financial goals, and the circular economy are inputs, outputs, and outcomes. However, there is a lack of consensus on their potential, perhaps due to the scarcity of studies, most of which are models and case studies without readily generalizable results. To address this gap, we analyze the triadic relationship between MFCA, environmental, and economic performance using a two-stage regression of data from Japanese listed companies. Based on the estimation results, we find that since MFCA can improve several aspects of environmental performance by saving resources, it can enhance productivity by improving a range of environmental performance indicators. In particular, MFCA can improve firm productivity and profits by reducing the waste produced. This supports the view that MFCA is an effective tool for contributing to the circular economy.

Date: Wednesday, Aug. 30th, 2023 @ 12:00PM – 12:50PM
Room Reservation: Atwater Kent 233

Oct. 10, 2023 Workshop: Synergies between Actionable Research & Implementation Science

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 4-6 pm, 116 Kaven Hall

Fall 2023: Workshop: Synergies between Actionable Research & Implementation Science

Janet Hering 10-3-23 Poster

With Professor Janet G. Hering
Director Emerita, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
Elected Member, U.S. National Academy of Engineering and of Academia Europaea

Professor Hering’s research interests include biogeochemical cycling of trace elements in natural waters, technologies for removal of inorganic contaminants from drinking water, and knowledge exchange at the interface of science with policy and practice. She is actively engaged in promoting diversity in academia, particularly in supporting women in academic leadership.

The goal of actionable research is to be useful in informing policy and practice.  Fulfilling this intention requires research design that incorporates several aspects.

1)Desired project outcomes should be explicitly included in project design and planning.  Target outputs that would foster such desired outcomes should be identified and incorporated as goals for the project.

2)Integration and synthesis should be explicitly identified as necessary activities throughout the project and as a goal for the project.

3)Milestones that can be linked to eventual uptake of project results should be identified and tracked during the project and also after its completion.

Designing effective actionable research requires serious attention to the needs and interests of potential implementation partners (and ideally direct involvement of their representatives) at formative stages of project development.  These aspects are also characteristic of implementation science, which offers a variety of frameworks and tools to promote the sustainable uptake of research into practice.  These overlapping approaches will be examined in the context of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Time and resources must also be budgeted for knowledge exchange, which may benefit from involvement of (non-academic) knowledge brokers.  Equitable acknowledgement of contributions made by project participants with varying background and expertise can help to foster the partnerships needed for effective actionable research.  Contact with non-academic project partners and stakeholders can also support early career researchers in identifying alternative career tracks.  Finally, diversity in project teams should be fostered as a source of innovation.

Nov. 1, 2023- Data Science Ph.D. Candidate, Eric Vertina

On behalf of NRT CEDAR, we would like to invite you to an upcoming event hosted by Eric Vertina, Data Science Ph.D. Candidate. This is one of several upcoming events/workshops in our CEDAR Convergence Seminar Series. Please see below for additional details.

Topic: MXenes

Host: Eric Vertina, Data Science, Ph.D. Candidate

Overview: Eric Vertina, Data Science Ph.D. Candidate will be giving a presentation on his research involving MXenes and seeking feedback in preparation for an online research talk he will be presenting at in collaboration with CS PhD student alumni, Prof. Karen Works, who now is faculty at FSU

Room Reservation: Hagglund Conference Room 301, Campus Center

Date: Wednesday, November 1, 2023 from 12:00PM – 1:00PM EST

Dec. 13, 2023 – Material Science & Manufacturing Engineering Graduate Seminar: Professor Michael Timko, WPI, “Let’s Make this Waste Work for Us”

Abstract

Waste is the natural byproduct of our extractive economy. Accumulation of waste, including everything from atmospheric gases to water pollutants, threatens our ecosystems and increasingly our health. When the waste ends up in communities populated by disadvantaged communities, clean up takes on aspects of social justice. Why should the poorest bear the greater burden of waste? Our waterways and oceans are particularly vulnerable, as these have accumulated tremendous amounts of waste plastics over the decades. The problem of waste, however, is largely one of perspective. Waste is not without value, provided that we have ways to valorize it. In my research, we use develop new ways to valorize waste as energy, fuels, chemicals, and materials. In this talk, I will describe one of my group’s journeys in our quest to make waste work for us. We begin our journey in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, sometimes referred to as a “plastic island” in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Using thermodynamic analysis, we find that the plastic contained in the Garbage Patch should be sufficient to power its clean up, provided that care is taken in the clean up process. We then move to riverways, the source of nearly all of the plastic found in the Garbage Patch. Using machine learning analysis, we develop a predictive tool for estimating energy yields that can be obtained from pyrolysis of riverway plastic, finding again that the plastic flowing out of remote river mouths should be sufficient to power cleanup in most cases. We finally move to the land, specifically to municipal recycling facilities, where we use our model analysis and develop new technologies for cost effective plastic recycling as chemicals and blended plastics. Plastic waste is a problem that we all must face, and continued efforts can make a difference.

Biography

Prof. Michael Timko is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Dr. Timko’s main research interests involve the study of new technologies for production of sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials. He is author of more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and a recipient of the National Science Foundation’s CAREER award and the American Chemical Society’s Glenn Research Award. Prof. Timko is on the editorial boards of Sustainable Chemistry and Global Challenges and a member of AIChE’s Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Diversity Task Force. His work has been featured in The Boston Herald, The Worcester Telegram, the Biofuels Digest, WGBH’s All Things Considered, and NBC 10 News, among other outlets. In summer 2022, he was a visiting researcher at the Institute for Condensed Materials Chemistry in Bordeaux France, which was supported by the Fulbright Foundation. He is co-PI of an NSF Research Training Grant on the combination of chemical sciences, data sciences, and social sciences. He is co-founder of River Otter Renewables, a 2023 startup that has received many accolades including recognition by Mass Econ as one of the Commonwealth’s new businesses of the year. Prior to joining WPI, Dr. Timko was a Principal Engineer at Aerodyne Research Inc. and a Research Engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His training is in chemical engineering and chemical physics at The Ohio State University (B.S.), MIT (M.S. and Ph.D.), and Harvard University (post-doc).

Date: December 13, 2023 @ Noon

Location: Atwater Kent Laboratories, Floor/Room #233 OR

https://wpi.zoom.us/my/energymetals?pwd=TGE2L2w5UHRhaXpCSTFCenc0Nkk5Zz09

Friday, January 13th, 2022: Fairness in Energy Transitions

Feat. Dr. Nathan Wood is a visiting scholar in DIGS, from Utrecht University. 

Tuesday, February 21st, 2023: ChatGPT, A Solution or a Problem?

Wednesday, October 19^th, 2022: Feat. Cell Press Publishing

Sent on behalf of Mike Timko, Chemical Engineering and Co-PI on the NRT CEDAR

• Do you want to learn more about publishing papers?
• Do you want to learn about alternative science and engineering careers?

Attend next week’s visit from Cell Press editors to demystify the publishing process and learn about career opportunities in academic publishing.

—

Publishing papers and navigating career opportunities are two of the big challenges of a graduate career. We’re happy to host three editors from Cell Press – a prestigious scientific publisher – at WPI to answer questions about their careers in publishing and to demystify the publishing process. The event will be held over term break, Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 11am, in Higgins Lab #102. See below for an abstract.

Title: Editorial Insight into Scientific Publishing

Abstract: Editors from Matter, iScience and One Earth will give a short talk about the scientific publishing industry and then open the floor up to questions. We plan to include:

• A brief overview of the publishing ecosystem at Cell Press, including Matter, iScience and One Earth journals.
• Scientific editing as a career path. What’s a typical day like? How do you go from a research Ph.D. to a scientific editor?
• The “black box” of the publishing. We’ll try to demystify the process and go over determining journal scope, the editorial process, and what happens after you hit submit. Get answers to your questions about how your manuscript is assessed, how reviewers are selected, and the best way to respond to reviewer #2.

Monday, December 12^th, 2022: Feat. Ph.D. Candidate David Kenney

On behalf of NRT CEDAR, we would like to invite you to an upcoming event as part of the NRT CEDAR Convergence Seminar Series: Student Showcase featuring PhD Chemical Engineering Student, David Kenney. The goal of the student showcase series is to provide the opportunity for students to present their research and receive feedback from a broader audience.

Title: Developing a Defeatured Atom-Additive Model to Predict Single Component Partition Coefficients with Elemental Data

Description:

Octanol-water partition coefficients (K­ow­) are a useful tool for determining solute-solvent partitioning behavior as it provides insights towards the lipophilic or hydrophilic nature of compounds. Single component values can be identified experimentally, from first principle ab initio thermodynamics or, more commonly, approximated by regressive algorithms. However, current methods fall short in understanding complex systems with thousands of unique compounds such as those present in oil spills and bio-oil production. Fourier Transformation Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectroscopy (FT-ICR MS) is a powerful analytical tool that identifies molecular formulas and relative abundances of ions based on their excitement in a magnetic field.

In this work, we developed a number of machine-learned models (linear regression, random forest, gradient boosted, etc.) that predict single component partition coefficients based on the data available through FT-ICR MS. By using web scraping methods, a database of 18,091 data points, with 7,098 unique molecular formulas, were collected along with their experimental partition coefficient value. The data was regressed using multiple techniques and found that partition coefficients could be determined on minimal information. Using an independent validation set of nearly 3,000 compounds, our model can produce a mean absolute error of 0.52. Combining this new regression algorithm with FT-ICR MS of complex oil-water systems provides insights into the molecular makeup and partitioning signatures of complex oils.

Details:

• Host:David Kenney, PhD Student, Chemical Engineering
• Room Reservation:Unity Hall 471
• Date:Monday, December 12^th from Noon – 1:00PM