WPI’s Melbourne Project Center

Welcome to WPI’s Melbourne Project Center!

Since 1998, nearly 600 WPI students have conducted over 170 projects at the Melbourne Project Center (MPC), partnering with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private enterprises in Melbourne and across the state of Victoria. MPC projects help our students understand technological problems in their social, cultural, and political contexts, and they yield tangible outcomes that benefit partnering organizations and the wider community — from new research studies and policy recommendations, to built structures, program designs, and training materials that make a difference for our partners and their constituent communities.

Teams working with the Port Phillip EcoCentre have developed microplastic monitoring protocols and supported other cross-sectoral marine ecosystem management initiatives.
Teams working with Museums Victoria study visitor experiences and support interactive exhibit design.
Teams working with Friends of the Earth – Melbourne are analyzing opportunities for public transit expansion in the city.
Teams working with Snowy River Innovation and Beyond Zero Emissions are investigating ethical pathways for the bioenergy sector.
Teams working with Banskia Gardens Community Services collaborate with young people on STEM education, climate adaptation and anti-domestic violence work.
Teams working with the Brotherhood of St. Laurence are developing resources to help young people prepare for career success.

Projects

Each year, the Melbourne Project Center conducts a set of 6 or 7 projects, typically with 3 or 4 students per project team, during B Term (from late October to mid-December) and another set of projects in D term (from mid-March to early May). In these pages you will find links to the reports of…

Partners

Overview The Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) is an immersive, 7-week project-based learning experience that WPI students complete in their third year, working on teams and partnering with local organizations. These projects, defined in cooperation with our partners, address important issues at the intersection of technology and society. Students conduct background research and learn about professional approaches to the problem…

Students

“The experience of spending 2 months living and working in another country really broadened my understanding of the world and its different cultures. Working every day in an interdisciplinary team helped me learn how to collaborate with people of differing backgrounds and areas of expertise.” – D Term 2013, MPC Alum The Melbourne Project Center works in…

Contact Us

Please contact us if you would like to learn more about the Melbourne Project Center, or if you would like to sponsor a project in Melbourne. Co-Directors Lorraine Higgins Co-Director, Melbourne Project Center Director, Communication Across the Curriculum Webpage: https://www.wpi.edu/people/faculty/ldh Email: ldh@wpi.edu Phone: +1-508-831-5503 Stephen McCauley Co-Director, Melbourne Project Center Assistant Teaching Professor, Global Studies…