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New Members Inducted to National Engineering Honor Society Tau Beta Pi

amduffy — Thu, 01 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to the newly inducted members of Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society.

Tau Beta Pi was founded in 1885 to honor academic achievement and outstanding character. WPI鈥檚 Massachusetts Alpha Chapter, the first chapter in New England, was founded in 1910. In addition to the students who were inducted last night, we had the honor of inducting two Eminent Engineers, Professors Andrew Teixeira of Chemical Engineering and Fiona Zoutendyk of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

Please join us in congratulating their achievement!

Tau Beta Pi. Integrity and Excellence in Engineering.

Justina Amoako, MS, Manufacturing Engineering

Gemma Baldwim 鈥?7, Environmental Engineering

Octavio Bittar 鈥?7, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Courtney Brady 鈥?7, Biomedical Engineering

Allison Califano MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Kevin Collins 鈥?7, Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Abigail Coolidge 鈥?7, Architectural Engineering

Ethan Curley 鈥?6, Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Khang Diep 鈥?7, Robotics Engineering

Ryann Dionne 鈥?5, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Halim Faker 鈥?5, Industrial Engineering

Christopher Ferrarotti 鈥?7, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Samantha Germano, MS, Systems Engineering

Noah Gibbs 鈥?7, Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Joshua Gifford 鈥?7, Robotics Engineering

Veronika Gorski, MS, Biomedical Engineering

Jeremy Hudon 鈥?6, Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Marshall Ismail, MS, Mechanical Engineering

Amelia Kokernak PhD, Aerospace Engineering

Nicholas Lentino 鈥?7, Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Kathryn McDonagh 鈥?7, Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Brynn McElligott 鈥?7 Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Collin Mello, MS, Fire Protection Engineering

Everett Mosher 鈥?6, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Sofia Murphy 鈥?7 Robotics Engineering

Sofia Pantano 鈥?7 Chemical Engineering

Fiona Prendergast 鈥?6 Robotics Engineering

Frederick Smith '26, Engineering

Anthony Virone, MS, Robotics Engineering

Maxwell Wiesenfeld 鈥?7 Architectural Engineering

Fan Yang, MS, Mechanical Engineering

Alexandr Zilberleyb 鈥?7, Robotics Engineering

WPI Wildfire Research Featured on WBUR's The Common Podcast

jcain — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Albert Simeoni, head of the Department of Fire Protection Engineering and a former firefighter, appeared on The Common, a podcast from WBUR, Boston's National Public Radio.

Simeoni talked about his first-hand experience with fighting fire and how he, faculty, and WPI students in the fire protection engineering program are driven to engage in research to find out how to mitigate large wildfires.

Simeoni also discussed WPI's cutting-edge fire laboratories, and the experiments conducted on campus that help researchers advance the field of wildfire research.

Listen to the podcast and see photos from WBUR's visit to the Department of Fire Protection Engineering on The Common website.

Ali Rangwala and Stephen Kmiotek Featured in the Dust Safety Science Podcast

djgraves — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Ali Rangwala, Professor in Fire Protection Engineering, and Stephen Kmiotek, Professor of Practice in Chemical Engineering, were recently featured in the Dust Safety Science podcast, introducing WPI鈥檚 new Master of Science in Explosion Protection Engineering (XPE). Listen to the Dust Safety Science podcast episode.

You can learn more about XPE and also apply online at: /academics/study/master-science-explosion-protection-engineering

Watch Live Stream of WPI Christmas Tree Burn Demonstration

jcain — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On Thursday, December 5, at 5pm, members of the WPI student chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) will conduct a live demonstration in which they will set ablaze a real tree and an artificial tree, side by side, during controlled burns in a laboratory environment. Every year, the SFPE chapter at WPI does a burn to show the dynamics and dangers of Christmas tree fires; and this year is the first time the event has incorporated an artificial tree.

A live stream of the event will be available on WPI鈥檚 YouTube channel.

You can watch the live stream at this link.

The burn demonstration is expected to begin at 5:30 p.m.

To be notified when the live stream begins, subscribe to WPI鈥檚 YouTube channel.

Each year in the U.S., over 150 home fires begin with Christmas trees. With that in mind, the students in the SFPE chapter stress the importance of proper fire prevention measures, including:

Keep your tree at least 3 feet away from any heat source. Don鈥檛 use lighted candles near the tree.
Add water daily to keep the tree hydrated.
Make sure the lights on the tree are in good working order.
Remove the tree from your home after Christmas.

Fire safety, prevention, and improved protection against fires is a core mission of WPI鈥檚 Department of Fire Protection Engineering, which is home to the first master鈥檚 program and one of only three fire protection engineering (FPE) graduate programs in the nation. WPI鈥檚 FPE Department has driven significant cutting-edge research, developed real-world solutions through its state-of-the-art fire laboratories, and graduated highly trained, influential, in-demand experts.

Fire Protection Engineering students present research on battery electric vehicle fires

dpoirier — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In November of 2023, the WPI Fire Protection Engineering Department in collaboration with the Boston Fire Department and UL鈥檚 Fire Safety Research Institute performed and analyzed a full-scale battery electric vehicle (BEV) fire test. This work was advised by Professor Milosh Puchovsky, supported by WPI fire laboratory staff Frederick Brokaw and Mahesh Kottalgi, and conducted by fire protection engineering PhD students Weixuan Gong, Jorge Valdivia, and Jon Zimak. An overview of the testing was presented at the 2024 National Fire Protection Association Conference and Expo in Orlando Florida. The slides are provided here for reference.

The experiment involved the instrumentation, ignition, initiation of thermal runaway, and subsequent suppression of a 2020 BEV. The primary goal of this work is to test and evaluate the response of an electric vehicle to external ignition sources in outdoor windy conditions. The primary objectives of the test are to gather data on fire development, observe firefighter interactions during suppression efforts, and make recommendations for subsequent BEV testing. This initiative aligns with the overarching objective of enhancing our comprehension of BEV fire behavior, encompassing the exploration of products of combustion and refining fire suppression practices.

The test was conducted outdoors with a fully charged accident-free vehicle and was ignited by a gas burner. Instrumentation included thermocouples on and within the vehicle, flow meters, and heat flux gauges. Video and thermal imaging cameras were placed within and around the vehicle.

It took 40 minutes for the vehicle to ignite with the burner heat release rate gradually increasing from 20 kW to 100 kW. The test results can be divided into 5 regimes: vehicle ignition, an initial suppression, a post-initial suppression 鈥渂attery fire鈥? a second much longer suppression period, and a final phase of test conclusion. The two distinct fire periods between suppression resulted in marked differences in fire behavior, incident heat fluxes, and water flow measurements. The first event resulted from the concurrent combustion of the vehicle's flammable materials and the thermal runaway of the battery pack. The subsequent event, referred to as the "battery fire", involved a jet-like flame emanating from the battery pack, while the remaining flammable materials of the vehicle were nearly consumed. A comprehensive discussion on the instrumentation plan, test methodology, and data collected is provided in the slides along with an analysis of the test results and insights to support future testing endeavors.

WPI Fire Protection Engineering Graduate Students Conduct Fire Research in Iceland

dpoirier — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

WPI Fire Protection Engineering Graduate Students Conduct Fire Research in Iceland

A group of seven graduate students from the Fire Protection Engineering Department showed off their leadership, teamwork, and technical skills by conducting field experiments in Iceland in July.

The experiments focused on the ignition and combustion properties of Viking-style doors and traditional Viking-style longhouses and were conducted in partnership with Hurstwic, an organization that studies Viking life and culture.

The experiments were performed during Hurstwic鈥檚 Fire Festival in an effort to analyze the Viking-age combat tactic of burning longhouses, commonly made of wood and turf. The structures were built specifically for the festival and the students equipped them with measurement devices to learn how these types of fires would have spread and what the conditions may have been like for anyone trapped inside.

The students, all members of the Society of Fire Protection Engineer WPI chapter, organized, executed, and conducted measurements on the burning of the doors. Each door burned for 10-15 minutes with the full turf house burning for over an hour.

鈥淭hese experiments provided valuable data on the behavior of these historical structures under fire conditions,鈥?said PhD student Fernando Ebensperger. 鈥淢y fellow students and I were able to plan, organize, and execute the entire process from start to finish. That鈥檚 what WPI training is all about.鈥?lt;/p>

The students did all the fieldwork and professors provided oversight of the research. These experiments allowed students to demonstrate not only their technical knowledge but also their leadership and teamwork skills. Working with Hurstwic added an extra dimension, requiring the students to partner with experts from other disciplines; adding depth and impact to the research.

鈥淭his was more than just an academic exercise,鈥?Ebensperger said, 鈥淚t tested our ability to work under pressure and stay calm. The student team appreciated the collaborative spirit of the project, which was key to getting the work done efficiently and with minimal stress.鈥?lt;/p>

The fire experiments were featured on Iceland鈥檚 station 2 television news channel which speaks to the importance of their work. The coverage, in Icelandic, can be seen here.

Videos, in English, were produced by Hurstwic about the experiments in Iceland and about preliminary experiments that were conducted in a fire protection engineering laboratory at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

The WPI graduate student participants in the project were: (Pictured Left to Right) Abhinandan Singh, Fernando Ebensperger, Navya Muniraj, Christian Vogt, Rayna Harter, and Jonathan Zimak.

Any WPI students interested in working with the FPE department or joining the SFPE student chapter should contacts FPE administrative specialist Diane Poirier, dpoirier@wpi.edu or sfpeexec@wpi.edu

Update (August 2025): A year after their groundbreaking research in Iceland, the WPI Fire Protection Engineering graduate students have completed and published their final report on the Viking-style door and longhouse fire experiments

Are We There Yet? podcast features Professor James Urban鈥檚 wildfire research in space

jcain — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

James Urban, assistant professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering, was a guest on an episode of Are We There Yet?, a podcast produced by Central Florida Public Media that goes in-depth on space exploration. In this episode, Urban discusses why he sent experiments on flame spread to the International Space Station, how they will be conducted in microgravity, and what it means for the quest to better understand how wildfires spread here on Earth.

Listen here.

IGNITING INNOVATION: Compete For Your Share of $20K in the JAM!

jmzafiris — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center

in partnership with Fire Protection Engineering

Presents

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!

馃敟 Calling all students! 馃敟

Ready to ignite your ideas and compete for your share of $20K in cash prizes? 馃挵

Calling all WPI students from all majors to submit an application and compete for a share of $20,000 in prize money. Five teams will be selected to participate in the jam.

1st place: $7,500 2nd place: $5,000 3rd place: $2,500

Top 5 applicant teams: $1,000 each if the team participates in all jam sessions and final pitch

The Challenge: Develop innovative solutions that address the most pressing GRAND CHALLENGES related to fire to make our world safer! Below are examples of interdisciplinary areas that focus, but are not limited to, these topics:

Ariel Surveillance Mavericks: Master drones, satellite imaging, and smart sensors for early fire detection
EV Revolution: Engineer the future of electric vehicles 鈥?think battery safety, vehicle design, crash innovations, and explosion defense
Urban Planning Architects: Design structures and communities that defy wildfire odds, turning urban planning into a force for resilience
Building Blaze Busters: Create fire-safe havens through innovative building designs, evacuation strategies, and groundbreaking materials
Virtual Reality Pioneers: Dive into the future of firefighter coordination
Cyber Sentinel Innovators: Safeguard firefighting systems in uncharted territories with cyber-secure innovations

For ideas, check out this great resource of white papers on GRAND CHALLENGE related to fire.

MQP, GQP, IQP, and ISP fire-related projects are welcome to apply.

Application Process

February 20: Deadline for Intent to Compete APPLY HERE (1 minute to complete)
February 22: 6:30-8:00pm Attend Introductory NABC Value Proposition & AI Tutor Workshop Zoom Link
March 5: Deadline to submit your NABC Value Proposition. Email it to Janet Zafiris at jmzafiris@wpi.edu
March 8: Top 5 teams announced

Jam Sessions (all virtual sessions are from 6:30-8:00 pm)

Thursday, March 14: 1.5 hours forum (session will be recorded)
Thursday, March 21: 1.5 hours forum
Thursday, March 28: 1.5 hours forum

Final Pitches and Celebration (in-person)

Thursday, April 4: Final Presentations & Award Ceremony (presentations will be recorded)

Igniting Innovation is made possible through the generosity of Marjorie and Duane Pearsall and the Duane D. Pearsall Endowment

Do you have any questions about the application or challenge?

Please contact Curtis Abel at caabel@wpi.edu or Janet Zafiris at jmzafiris@wpi.edu.

Distinguished Appointment for Fire Protection Engineering Department Head

cbwamback — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Albert Simeoni, head of the Fire Protection Engineering department, has been elected as the Honorary Treasurer / Vice Chair Finance and Trustee of the International Association for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS), a position that underscores his expertise and leadership in the field.

The IAFSS, recognized as the global authority in advancing fire safety through scientific means, aims to foster research, education, dialogue, and cooperation in fire safety science on an international scale. Professor Simeoni's election is a testament to his commitment to the mission of the IAFSS and his exceptional contributions to the field.

The announcement was made during the 14th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science, a prestigious event held from October 22-27, 2023 in Tsukuba, Japan. The symposium brought together experts and professionals from around the world to share insights and advancements in fire safety science.

Call for Nominations of Outstanding WPI Alumni

jldaigle — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Nomination Deadline Extended!

Each year, the WPI Alumni Association presents awards to deserving alumni in recognition of their professional achievements, service to the university, service to the Alumni Association, and service to their local communities. The 2024 award form is now open and the Citations Committee, chaired by Mark Macaulay '89, MS'94, is looking for nominations of alumni from classes ending in 4 or 9!

Learn more about the alumni awards at: wpi.edu/alumni/awards/about

Nominate a deserving alumna/us HERE

For additional information or questions, please contact alumni-office@wpi.edu

Holiday Safety: the Student Society of Fire Protection Engineers Show the Dangers of a Dry Christmas Tree

sahappy — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000

In an effort to raise awareness about fire safety during the holiday season, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is asking people to watch what can happen when a Christmas Tree is not properly maintained. Be sure to protect it鈥攁nd your family and home鈥攂y watering it consistently. A dry Christmas tree is a serious hazard, as the Student Society of Fire Protection Engineers show in this side-by-side burn of a well-maintained tree and a dry, neglected tree.

Watch the dramatic video here and get more holiday safety tips here.

Contact WPI鈥檚 experts on fire safety for analysis and commentary.

Call for Alumni Nominations!

jldaigle — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Hurry! Nominations Close October 28.

Each year, the WPI Alumni Association presents awards to deserving alumni in recognition of their professional achievements, service to the university, service to the Alumni Association, and service to their local communities. The 2023 award form is now open and the Citations Committee, chaired by Mark Macaulay '89, MS'94, is looking for nominations of alumni from classes ending in 3 or 8!

Learn more about the alumni awards at: wpi.edu/alumni/awards/about

Nominate a deserving alumna/us at: https://fs28.formsite.com/webteamwpiedu/alumni-award-nomination/index.html_gl=1*s0mlhx*_ga*MTg5NzQ3NjE2LjE2ODE5OTUwNDk.*_ga_RE35PKQB7J*MTY4MzcyNzkxNi45LjEuMTY4MzczMzg5NS41MS4wLjA.

The Citations Committee is chaired by Mark Macaulay '89, MS'94.

FPE PhD Proposal: Influence of Wavy Water on Pool Fire Combustion

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

鈥淚nfluence of Wavy Water on Pool Fire Combustion鈥?Nate Sauer WPI Fire Protection Engineering

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 11:00am-12:30pm https://wpi.zoom.us/j/99202759231 US: +16469313860,,99202759231# or +13017158592,,99202759231#

Abstract:

A quick and effective response to ocean oil spills is critical to minimizing environmental damage. In-situ burning (ISB) is a cleanup and containment technique that calls for the gathering and burning of spilled fuel in place on the ocean surface. ISB is particularly well regarded for its speed, effectiveness, and low cost. Little research has been completed on the impact of waves on hydrocarbon pool burning on water. This study attempts to investigate the influence of surface water waves on the burning characteristics of hydrocarbon fuels floating on water at three distinct scales. At the medium scale (80cm diameter burns) constantly replenished fuel layers are used to investigate a steady state condition with waves. Waves overall are shown to have a negative effect on burning by decreasing the burning rate, lowering internal fuel temperatures, and increasing unburnt residues.

Committee: Prof. Ali Rangwala, Advisor 鈥?Professor, Department of Fire Protection Engineering Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Prof. Morris Flynn 鈥?Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Alberta, Prof. Jose Torero 鈥?Professor and Head of Civil, Environmental, Geomatic & Environmental Engineering, University College London, Leonard Zabilansky, PE 鈥?Principal Engineer National Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility, Prof. Albert Simeoni 鈥?Professor and Department Head, Fire Protection Engineering Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Albert Simeoni, Fire Protection Engineering Department Head, Receives Prestigious International Research Award

cbwamback — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) Foundation, an organization focused on enhancing the scientific understanding of fire and its interaction with the natural and built environment, has awarded Professor Albert Simeoni the Arthur B. Guise Medal, the most prestigious award in fire protection engineering research. Simeoni is being honored for 鈥渉is eminent achievement in the advancement of the science and technology by connecting wildland fire science and fire safety science to better address wildland fire threats as a component of fire protection engineering practice.鈥?lt;/p>

鈥淭his award is truly an honor for me, my team, and our department as it recognizes our involvement with the Fire Protection Engineering community and our contribution to fire science and the profession.鈥?lt;/p>

Simeoni, who has been FPE department head since 2017, is a recognized expert in fire and wildland fire science and has more than 20 years of experience developing experimental, analytical, and numerical techniques to better understand fire dynamics and predict fire and wildland fire behavior. He is currently conducting research as part of a grant to assess burn patterns in fires. He also recently worked with the New York Times to help determine smoke patterns at play in a deadly fire in the Bronx.

The SFPE Foundation is the charitable arm of SFPE, the world鈥檚 leading professional society for fire protection and fire safety engineering. It currently has over 4,800 members and over 100 chapters worldwide, including more than 20 student chapters. Simeoni will receive his award during the SFPE Annual Conference & Expo in Detroit, Michigan, October 12-14, 2022.

PhD. Thesis Presentation - "The Behavior of Pitfires" by Veronica Kimmerly

admin — Tue, 17 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Fire Protection Engineering Department

PhD Thesis Presentation

Thursday, May 19, 2022

9:00-10:00am

Zoom: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/320855113

鈥淭he Behavior of Pit Fires鈥?lt;/p>

Veronica Kimmerly

WPI Fire Protection Engineering

Abstract

In the past few years research has emerged that identifies open-air waste fires as a significant contributor to global greenhouse emissions and human health hazard with long-term consequences from exposure. Clearly these fires need to be addressed but the context of these fires in low-infrastructure or impoverished regions limits the potential solutions. Given that for many people open-air fires are the only way they can dispose of their waste besides landfilling, it is unlikely that these fires can be eliminated. So, if these fires can't be stopped is there a way they can be improved? Open-air waste fires are typically burned in a pit to limit fire spread and provide thermal protection. Previous research into the effects of a fire in a partially filled pit (ullage is the term for the distance between the fill level and the top of the pit) has found burning is enhanced for some ullage to diameter ratios. If altering the pit geometry and the fuel location within in the pit can improve these fires, either by reducing emissions or reducing exposure time, then it is a highly implementable solution to this hazard.

To investigate the effects of ullage on pit fire behavior, a series of small-scale and meso-scale experiments are performed in conjunction with the development of a one-zone model. The small-scale experiments (9 cm and 10 cm diameters) decoupled the burning rate from the air flow by using a methane gas burner. The first set of experiments analyzed the characteristics of a fire in a pit using an experimental set up comprising of a square burner with fuel (methane) injected into the burner at different ullages (U) with three flow rates (2, 4, and 6 g/min) to vary the heat release rate. The flame dynamics are captured using high-definition video. Air entrainment is measured using a vent hood, where the products of combustion are collected and detailed temperature measurements within the hood are used to determine the location of the steady smoke layer height. At all fuel flow rates, the flame fluctuates inside the ullage, opening up at the central portion at one time instant and closing down to a conical flame at another time instant. Based on the value of fuel flow rate and ullage value, the frequency of this flame fluctuation varies. At a fuel flow rate of 2 g/min, the flame is diffusion controlled. As the fuel flow rate is increased, convection begins to dominate. Based on the ullage and fuel flow rate, partial premixing of air and fuel occurs within the ullage and a bluish flame is observed showing highly efficient combustion behavior. In summary, for a given ullage, there is a range of fuel flow rates where the airflow into the ullage is strong enough to impart partial premixing. Thus, based on the fuel flow rate or the heat release rate, an appropriate ullage can be chosen to improve the burning performance. The air entrainment depends directly on the heat release rate and inversely on the ullage and fluctuation frequency values. Based on this an engineering correlation based on a similarity analysis is proposed and experimental and theoretical values of air entrainment are within reasonable agreement. The correlation is limited because assumptions of negligible radiation and decoupling of mass transfer are made when using a gas burner in the experiments. However, the correlation is valuable as it led to a systematic study of air entrainment effects on heat release rate in a pit.

The second set of small-scale experiments are conducted to study the effect of pit depth on flame pulsation, anchoring, oxygen penetration, and temperature in buoyant diffusion flames of methane in a cylindrical burner. Depending upon the ullage (i.e., pit depth), four stages of flame behavior are identified. Stage I exhibits stable flames anchored close to the porous plate with vertical pulsation. At higher ullages, the flame also exhibits a U-shaped flame with a certain pulsation frequency (termed as stage II). At even higher ullages, the anchoring location begins to vertically oscillate in the pit while still exhibiting both vertical and U-shape pulsation (termed stage III). At the highest ullages, oxygen cannot penetrate very far into the pit, causing the flame to anchor towards the top of the pit and only exhibit small vertical oscillations (termed Stage IV). Temperature, vertical pulsation frequency, flame height, and penetration depth determine that Stage III flames are the optimal flame stage and exhibit enhanced burning. A parameter characterization study has also been conducted to explain the diffusive and convective time scales in pit fire. This work indicates that an open-air pit fire can be designed with a certain ullage to diameter ratio that could have Stage III flame behavior and enhance the efficient burning of waste in these pits.

Then meso-scale experiments (57 cm diameter) were conducted with a condensed fuel (kerosene) where mass loss rate is coupled to the air entrainment and radiative heat flux. A constantly replenishing pool system was used to maintain a constant ullage below the fire. These experiments were conducted to determine if stage II fires are still enhanced at the meso-scale and if the trends in plume temperatures from the small-scale persist. The results confirm that stage II flames are enhanced, with comparable mass flux to that seen at 0D (pool fire) but with shorter flames, indicating reduced flame necking leading to a cylindrical shaped flame. The temperature profiles showed a similar trend to that seen at the small-scale with 0.75D having the highest plume temperature despite the shortest flames (and thus further from the TC tree). Finally, the experimental results are compared to data from a simple 1-D model and the model is shown to be accurate enough to use as a tool for designing future large scale experiments with condensed fuels.

In the future, more experiments are needed to determine the fire behavior at the large scale (D 鈮?1 m) and what ullage to diameter is optimal, to better visualize and model the flow field of the flame with PIV and advanced modelling, to further the understanding of radiative heat flux in the pit with more temperature measurements inside the pit cavity, and finally to determine the chemistry behind the reduction in CO production and if this reduction is significant enough to impact the health and environmental hazards presented by waste fires.

Committee

Prof. Ali Rangwala, WPI Fire Protection Engineering

Prof. Albert Simeoni, Department Head, WPI Fire Protection Engineering

Prof. Michael Timko, Chemical Engineering, WPI

Prof. Jose Torero

Prof. Laureen Elgert, Department Head, WPI The Global School

Applications are Open: Strage Innovation Award - Deadline March 17th

jjones3 — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Strage Innovation Award

Application Deadlines Friday March 17^th, 2022

Strage Award established in 2005 through the generosity of Henry and Alberta Strage to help encourage WPI undergraduate students who are interested in innovation and turning new ideas into viable new projects or ventures. Students鈥?ideas are evaluated by a panel of judges. The award will be given annually. The prize amount is up to $5,000.

The objective of the competition is to develop student knowledge and practical experience in the translation of creative ideas into viable new products, ventures, or licensing opportunities. It may be given to an individual or team involved in submitting their commercial, philanthropic, or social venture ideas.

Application Requirements:

Submit the Intent to Participate Form
Submit written proposal
Selected finalist will prepare an presentation slide deck
Selected finalist will present on Competition Day

Judging Criteria:

Customer Need / Pain Point / Problem Definition
Solution / Approach to Solving Problem
Value (Benefits/Costs)
Competition / Alternatives
Technical Merit, Viability, Commercialization Strategy
Implementation Feasibility
Quality of Presentation and Clarity of Idea

For more information and to apply for the Strage Innovation Award, please visit our web page at Strage Innovation Award

Call for Alumni Nominations!

jldaigle — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Each year, the WPI Alumni Association presents awards to a select group of alumni in recognition of their professional achievements and their service to the university and the Alumni Association. The nomination form is now open! We are looking for outstanding alumni from classes ending in 2 or 7. You can learn about the categories HERE. Please submit nominations by Dec. 7 to be considered for this year's award cycle. For any questions, email alumni-office@wpi.edu

Call for Applications: Kalenian Award 2021

jjones3 — Thu, 06 May 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Kalenian Award Application Deadline on August 13^th, 2021

The Kalenian Award, established in 2006 through the generosity of Alba Kalenian in memory of her late husband Aram (Class of 1933), provides seed funds to support and advance the ideas and inventiveness of WPI students, faculty, and alumni.

Aram Kalenian was an inventor who had numerous useful ideas and reduced many of them to practice. The purpose of the Kalenian Award is to encourage similar innovation and entrepreneurship at any stage of development from the WPI academic community. The award's focus is to fuel the entrepreneurial spirit through annual funding of a single viable invention.

This award will be given annually. The duration of the award shall not exceed 18 months and will be a grant of up to $25,000. It may be given to an individual or group involved in the invention of a product in order to assist in the process of moving the invention toward commercialization. The award may be given to support innovative ideas or the development of commercial products. Ideally, the recipients should be either a part of an existing small business enterprise or in the process of trying to establish a small business. This is not a business plan contest. Many diverse and high quality proposals are received making it difficult to select one winner. Applicants may resubmit proposals if they do not win an award in the previous year.

Read the Application Guidelines (pdf) and keep the following deadlines in mind.

Intent to Compete Form is due no later than August 13^th, 2021
Three-page narrative is due no later than September 10^th, 2021鈥?lt;/strong>

Winners will be announced on October 6^th, 2021 at 4pm. Location to be determined.

For more information please visit the Kalenian Award Webpage

WPI on List of 2021's Best Online Master's in Engineering Programs

jdadams — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000

WPI continues to climb U.S. News & World Report鈥檚 annual list of the Best Online Master鈥檚 in Engineering Programs, ranking #30 in 2021. Per U.S. News and World Report鈥檚 description, the 鈥渉ighly raked programs on the list have strong traditional academic foundations based on the excellence of entering students, graduation rates, and instructor credentials. They also excel at educating distance learners while offering robust career and financial support.鈥?lt;/p>

Social Science & Policy Studies department attracts multiple affiliates for exciting research

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000

WPI's Social Science & Policy Studies department attracts a variety of research affiliates to work within the department on projects near and far, with great social implications. We are pleased to have the following distinguished research affiliates working with us.

Dr. Barfour Adjei-Barwuah is the current Ambassador of Ghana to the United States of America with concurrent accreditation in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic. His first Ambassadorial assignment was Ambassador to Japan with concurrent accreditation to Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. He has a counselling qualification from London鈥檚 Centre of Advancement of Counselling and runs his own consultancy firm - Learning Works Consult- in Accra, Ghana. He is also a certified chaplain.

Dr. Lucy Agyepong is the Associate Dean of Engineering at Academic City College, a premium tertiary education institution offering holistic education to create world-rounded minds, located in Accra, Ghana. With a Masters in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering followed by a PhD in Mechanical Engineering with an Aerospace Design focus, she has over 10 years鈥?specialist experience in conducting advanced research on both Academic and Industrial levels. Her research has spanned Aircraft Design, with focus on alternative weight estimation and reduction methodologies. Additionally, Lucy has worked with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), UK, Airbus, GKN, BAE Aerospace and Rolls-Royce.

She is a strong advocate for Women IN Engineering (WINE) and a professional member of the Ghana Institute of Engineering (GhIE). She was also part of the team that successfully hosted the 1^st International Conference on Development Engineering in collaboration with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).

Khatera Alizada conducts research in areas including Modeling and Simulation, Quantitative Methodology, System Dynamics Modeling, Agent-based Modeling, International relations; Comparative politics; Post-conflict state-building and democratization; Peace-building; International political economy; Human rights; Globalization, Renewable energy and Policy diffusion. She earned her doctoral degree in International Studies from Old Dominion University. After receiving her doctoral degree, she completed a year of postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Mind and Culture, a research center in Boston MA. She holds a Master鈥檚 degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University鈥檚 School of International Services in Washington D.C. where she received the Hall of Nations Fellowship Award.

Dr Linda Deigh has over 25 years鈥?experience in the UK with industry and academia.

Linda is currently the Associate Dean of Faculty of Business Administration and Communication Arts at Academic City University College in Ghana. Her role supports the institution鈥檚 vision to nurture the future business professional in Africa by addressing the socioeconomic challenges on the continent which require rigour in designing relevant practical business solutions and the keen ability to create narratives along that journey. Linda is involved in collaborations with WPI in areas of research, curriculum development and delivery, and student exchange.

Stuart Hilger is a senior marketing and business development executive with broad experience in financial service firms including Fidelity Investments and Fleet Bank (now Bank of America). In addition, Stuart has been the founder or senior team member in several successful startups in financial services and consumer tech including Route401k, CardStar and RememberIn. Stuart is author of patent US 8881251B1 Electronic Authentication Using Pictures and Images November 2014.

Stuart has an undergraduate degree from Marquette University in Business Administration and a Masters of Management degree from Northwestern University鈥檚 Kellogg School of Management.

Justin B. Hollander, PhD, FAICP, is a professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University. His research and teaching is in the areas of physical planning, Big Data, shrinking cities, and the intersection between cognitive science and the design of cities. He has plans to collaborate with WPI faculty around several of these topics. He co-edited the forthcoming book Urban Experience and Design: Contemporary Perspectives on Improving the Public Realm (Routledge, 2021) and is the author of seven other books on urban planning and design, including Cognitive Architecture Designing for How We Respond to the Built Environment (with Ann Sussman) and Urban Social Listening: Potential and Pitfalls for Using Microblogging Data in Studying Cities.

Eric Keys is the monitoring and evaluation advisor for the Center for Digital Development at the United States Agency for International Development. He is an environmental geographer with backgrounds in natural resource conservation and economic development, and global environmental change. During his career, Eric has carried out research on commercial agriculture and tropical deforestation, wildlife friendly development policies, land use and land cover change, and field methods and techniques. Dr. Keys served as a post-doctoral fellow at CIPEC; faculty member at Arizona State University, the University of Florida, WPI; and Science and Technology Policy Fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is interested in linking WPI faculty and students to interesting development and conservation opportunities.

Kwabena Kyei-Aboagye is an environmental professional with over 20 years of government and academic experience, Kwabena specializes in planning, law, public policy, environmental justice, community engagement, and multi-disciplinary projects. With a deep understanding of the local, state, federal and international government policies, Kwabena works with stakeholders in formulating and implementing effective technical and environmental strategies. Currently, Kwabena works as a Massachusetts urban environmental program manager for the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region I (MA, RI, NH, ME, CT, and VT), where he is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing the Massachusetts Urban Environmental Program.

Among other initiatives, Kwabena also worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as an urban environmental coordinator, sustainable development coordinator, and environmental justice coordinator. BS, MCP, Boston University; JD, Suffolk University Law School. He is the Chief of Akyem Dwenase, Akyem Abuakwa State, Ghana.

Chakanetsa Mavhunga is an Associate Professor of Science, Technology, and Society (STS) at MIT and founder of Research || Design || Build (RDB), a rural community-based research and innovation institute in Zimbabwe dedicated to people-initiated rural development. Chakanetsa is the author of three books on African science and technology: Transient Workspaces: Technologies of Everyday Innovation in Zimbabwe (2014). What Do Science, Technology, and Innovation Mean from Africa? (editor, 2017), and The Mobile Workshop: The Tsetse Fly and African Knowledge Production (2018), all with MIT Press. He will be collaborating with colleagues on community development engineering projects in Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

Jim Thompson contributed his national health system model to WPI鈥檚 Social Science and Policy Studies Department for use in the Global Health Initiative. He is working with Mike Radzicki and supporting an MQP to document the thousand-equation closed system feedback model and test structural policy choices.

For over 30 years, Jim applied system dynamics methodology in the field of healthcare. Jim has consulted with numerous pharmaceuticals firms on market behaviors, directed economic research for a 10-million member managed care organization (2000-2007), founded the health systems research lab for Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore (2010-2012), advised the Indonesian executive administration on long range health systems capacity planning (2013-2015), and developed a novel community health insurance program with colleagues at University of Strathclyde, London School of Tropical Medicine and icddr,b for Bangladesh (2015-2017).

Hermine Vedogbeton is a Ph.D candidate in the department of Economics with a focus in environment and development at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. She also holds a master鈥檚 degree in International Development and Social Change. Her research interests include valuation of natural resources and environmental effects on maternal and child health. She recently worked on the National Science Foundation Coastal Science, Engineering, and Education Sustainability project on salt marsh persistence and value and published in the Environmental and Resource Economics journal.

She is looking forward to collaborating with the Social Science and Policy Studies department on projects related to the environment and development particularly in Africa.

Raafat Zaini spent over 20 years in the design and manufacturing industry where he held several technical and managerial positions before pursuing a Ph.D. in system dynamics and organizational behavior. His interest is in the area of organizational dynamics and innovation sustainability with a focus on a multi-perspective design approach and the dynamic modeling of R&D organizations and higher education institutions. Raafat worked as a researcher at the MIT Sociotechnical Systems Research Center and as and consulted for the Advance Management Group, among other accomplishments.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute to Participate in The 2020 STEM for All Video Showcase: Learning from Research and Practice

admin — Mon, 04 May 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Erin Ottmar (Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences and Psychology), Jacob Whitehill (Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Learning Sciences), Lane Harrison (Assistant Professor of Computer Science), Gillian Smith (Associate Professor of Computer Science), Jenny Yun-Chen Chan and Ji-Eun Lee (Postdoctoral Research Scientists in Learning Sciences), Avery Harrison (LST PhD student), Anand Ramakrishnan (CS PhD student), Hannah Smith (LST MS student), Grace Seiche (鈥?0 CS and Psychology), and Fransisco Castro (CS PhD student) will be featured in the 2020 STEM for All Video Showcase funded by the National Science Foundation. The event will be held online May 5th -12th at https://stemforall2020.videohall.com

The first presentation, entitled 鈥淢ultimodal Machine Learning for Automated Classroom Feedback鈥?harnesses multi-modal machine learning to develop an automatic classroom observation system that can perceive fine-grained interactions between classroom participants and help teachers to become more aware of the subtle interpersonal dynamics in their own classrooms. The project was funded by the National Science Foundation. https://stemforall2020.videohall.com/presentations/1757

The second presentation, entitled 鈥淕raspable Math: Moving Students Mathematical Understanding From Here to There!鈥?introduces Graspable Math and From Here to There!, two dynamic learning technologies for mathematics that have been developed, researched, and implemented in K-12 classrooms. The project was funded by the Institute of Education Sciences and the Small Business Innovation Research Program. https://stemforall2020.videohall.com/presentations/1744

The third presentation, entitled 鈥淒eveloping Computational Thinking Through Game Design and Play鈥?introduces the Wearable Learning Cloud Platform. Through game creation and playing, the WLCP provides the benefits of mobile technologies and collaborative learning to develop students鈥?higher-level thinking in STEM classrooms. The project was funded by the National Science Foundation. https://stemforall2020.videohall.com/presentations/1711

Now in its sixth year, the annual showcase will feature over 170 innovative projects aimed at improving STEM learning and teaching, which have been funded by the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies. During the week-long event, researchers, practitioners, policy makers and members of the public are invited to view the short videos, discuss them with the presenters online, and vote for their favorites.

The theme for this year鈥檚 event is 鈥淟earning from Research and Practice.鈥?Video presentations address improving K-12 STEM classroom, informal environments, undergraduate and graduate education, teacher professional development, and community engagement. Collectively the presentations cover a broad range of topics including science, mathematics, computer science, engineering, cyberlearning, citizen science, maker spaces, broadening participation, research experiences, mentoring, professional development, NGSS and the Common Core.

Last year鈥檚 STEM for All Video Showcase is still being accessed, and to date has had over 76,000 unique visitors from 181 countries.

The STEM for All Video Showcase is hosted by TERC, in partnership with: STEMTLnet, CADRE, CAISE, CIRCL, STELAR, CS for All Teachers, NARST, NCTM, NSTA, NSF INCLUDES, and QEM. The Showcase is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (#1922641).

Professor Albert Simeoni Contributes to United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Report

admin — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0000

A paper co-authored by Albert Simeoni, fire protection engineering professor and department head, has been included in the 2019 United Nations World Report on Disaster Risk Reduction. The paper, Fuelbreaks: a part of wildfire prevention, notes, 鈥渇uelbreaks are man-made areas with a reduced fuel load that act as barriers to stop or slow down fire spread. They are also designed to provide firefighters access and to act as a retreat for personnel and equipment to escape injury.鈥?In the paper, researchers outline the use of firebreaks in wildfire settings, analyze best practices, and recommend future needs for both scientists and fire managers.

The UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR), published biennially, is the flagship report of the United Nations on worldwide efforts to reduce disaster risk. In addition to Simeoni, authors include Jean-Louis Rossi, Thierry Marcelli, Fran莽ois Joseph Chatelon, University of Corsica; and Dominique Morvan, Aix-Marseille Universit茅.

Simeoni Awarded Rasbash Medal

admin — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

On November 8, 2019, Professor Albert Simeoni was awarded the prestigious Rasbash Medal by The Institution of Fire Engineers, one of the world's leading professional organization for those involved in fire engineering, fire prevention and fire suppression. Simeoni, who heads the fire protection engineering department, was given the award for his advanced work in wildfire research.

The medal, one of the highest honors in the field, is named for David Rasbash. Rasbash was a pioneer in the field of fire safety engineering and became the first ever professor of fire safety engineering at the University of Edinburgh.

As part of the honor, Simeoni was invited to deliver the annual Rasbash Lecture at the University of Edinburgh. His talk, 鈥淚nvestigating the physics of wildfires to help build resilience in society鈥?gave an overview of the challenges that our societies face and what can be done to overcome them, with an emphasis on the issue of the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI).

鈥淭he Rasbash Lectures are a vital part of the IFE calendar. The lectures and the associated award of the Rasbash medal showcase the outstanding research carried out by key members of the fire community, and give us, as a sector and an Institution, a chance to celebrate them,鈥?said Roy Bishop, CEO of the Institution of Fire Engineers. 鈥淧rofessor Simeoni has provided so much to the fire sector, his research and pioneering attitude includes research on wildland fires, looking at combustion, heat transfer and fire spread modelling. We're delighted to honour Professor Simeoni and all his achievements at this esteemed event.鈥?lt;/p>
Professor Simeoni鈥檚 Rasbash Lecture can be viewed here.

SFPE 2019

dpoirier — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Thank you to the sponsors of our Alumni and Friends reception!

If you plan on attending, please let us know! RSVP at bit.ly/WPI_SFPE2019

Monday, October 14, 2019 - 8:00-10:00 p.m.

Location: Ant Room

The Horse/Ant/Quail Patios

Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass

5594 W Wild Horse Pass Blvd.

Phoenix, AZ 85226

Fire Protection Engineering Department Seminar Series

admin — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 12:00:00 +0000

Fire Protection Engineering Department

Seminar Series

All are Welcome

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

12:00 pm

FPE, 50 Prescott Street, Gateway Park II, Room 50P1226

***Light Lunch will be provided - RSVP to dpoirier@wpi.edu if you are able to attend***

Two topics will be covered

Zahir Tohir, PhD

Lecturer and researcher | Universiti Putra Malaysia

Opportunities and challenges of fire science research in Malaysia

Abstract:

Fire science research in Malaysia can be considered in infancy stage. There are not much research outputs in this field considering there are needs for research. Therefore, this lecture will discuss on the opportunities and challenges of fire science research in Malaysia.

Design fire of passenger vehicles

Abstract:

Fires associated with vehicles have the potential to impact on life safety and property protection. From literature, it was found that when it comes to vehicle simulation, researchers tend to use either t2 fire or a single heat release rate profile from various sources. Therefore, there is a need to come up with a probabilistic design fire of vehicles due to wide variations of possibilities of consequences can be caused by vehicle fire.

Bio:

Zahir is currently a lecturer and researcher in Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. He obtained his PhD in Fire Engineering from University of Canterbury, New Zealand under the supervision of Michael Spearpoint and Charles Fleishcmann. His research interest lies in the area of fire risk analysis, probabilistic risk analysis, and forest fires. Currently he is conducting research on fire risk in tunnels and peat fire back in Malaysia.

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IGNITING INNOVATION: Compete For Your Share of $20K in the JAM!

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center

in partnership with Fire Protection Engineering

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!

馃敟 Calling all students! 馃敟

Ready to ignite your ideas and compete for your share of $20K in cash prizes? 馃挵

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Thursday, May 19, 2022

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Applications are Open: Strage Innovation Award - Deadline March 17th

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Application Deadlines Friday March 17th, 2022

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Kalenian Award Application Deadline on August 13th, 2021

WPI on List of 2021's Best Online Master's in Engineering Programs

Social Science & Policy Studies department attracts multiple affiliates for exciting research

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Professor Albert Simeoni Contributes to United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Report

Simeoni Awarded Rasbash Medal

SFPE 2019

Fire Protection Engineering Department Seminar Series

Seminar Series

Application Deadlines Friday March 17^th, 2022

Kalenian Award Application Deadline on August 13^th, 2021