A Living Spirit of Innovation

Dear WPI Community,

The winter on campus feels peaceful, yet vibrant. In front of Boynton Hall, where my office is located, I can see the famous Magnetic Lab. Constructed in 1887—without any metal to permit studies in electromagnetism—the building was used for research in electrical engineering, then the rocketry lab of Robert Goddard.

Research at WPI traces back to the beginnings of the university. Today, that tradition not only continues, but is accelerating. Our faculty—which includes 25 Fulbright scholars and more than 40 CAREER Award recipients—collaborate across disciplines to drive discoveries and create solutions. From creating hydrogen fuels for aircraft, developing transparent wound dressing, and building autonomous vehicles for off-road environments, to making 3D-printed robots for search and rescue operations and uncovering structure details of SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading-edge research is underway at WPI.

This year WPI will celebrate 50 years of our first off-campus project center, established in Washington, D.C. Exceptional students of the highest caliber are drawn to WPI for the unique opportunity to work on real-world problems in real-world settings. Through their research at global project centers, students have designed solutions to make greenhouses more energy efficient in Armenia and monitored local air pollution levels in Greece. Closer to home, our students have studied ways to break down PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, in water systems. They have used their WPI-honed skills to probe issues that impact entire populations, such as how medical triage sometimes fails during disasters. Along this process, our students learn to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, value creators, and team players.

The spirit of innovation is not just a concept at WPI; it is a living, breathing force that permeates every corner of our campus. From cutting-edge research and design projects, groundbreaking discoveries to start-ups, the spirit of innovation is alive and well within our community.

It is this spirit that propels us forward, driving us to explore new frontiers, push the boundaries, and better the world.

Sincerely,

Grace