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When Driving at Night, Mind the Thermostat

leckelbecker — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Shichao Liu

To determine the ultimate driving environment, WPI researcher Shichao Liu has put drivers to the test in some interesting ways.

Liu, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, has measured the performance of study participants in a driving simulator while outfitting them in caps to image brain activity and exposing them to varying light levels, heat, cold, and even stinky T-shirts.

Now Liu鈥檚 lab has published new research showing that when it comes to driving performance at night, the temperature inside a vehicle matters. Study participants who drove in a simulator were less comfortable, sweatier, and more mentally stressed as temperatures rose. They also used the simulator鈥檚 accelerator more and drove in a way that would increase the vehicle鈥檚 pitch and roll鈥攎eaning there would be more car body movement that could make rides feel rougher.

鈥淎s the temperature inside the simulator went up, participants drove less steadily and with more variation in their speed,鈥?Liu says. 鈥淭his has implications for air conditioning operation in vehicles, vehicle design, and, of course, safety.鈥?lt;/span>

The group鈥檚 research, which focused on both temperature and lighting, was published in the journal Building and Environment. In addition to Liu, authors were Chao Wang, PhD 鈥?4, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital; John Elson, a research engineer at Ford Motor Co.; and Yingzi Lin, a professor at Northeastern University. The research was supported by WPI and the Ford University Research Program.

Two WPI Professors Recognized with State Educator Award

jcain — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has recognized two WPI faculty members as recipients of the department's Educator Award to celebrate their decade of work in upholding the department鈥檚 mission to ensure a clean environment and enhance natural resources in the state. During an event at WPI in June, the MassDEP announced the recipients of the award: Corey Denenberg Dehner, associate professor of teaching in The Global School, and Paul Mathisen, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering and WPI鈥檚 director of sustainability.

Dehner and Mathisen co-direct WPI鈥檚 Massachusetts Water Resource Outreach Center (WROC), a project center that allows student teams to partner with municipalities, local government agencies, and watershed organizations to work on water resource challenges. Dehner and Mathisen co-founded the center in 2015 with a goal of exposing students to the inner workings of state and local government and tackling water resource issues in Central and Eastern Massachusetts.

Leaders with the MassDEP cited the pair鈥檚 work at the center as a main reason they were selected to receive the award. The department gives the honor to recognize educators who inspire and empower students to protect the planet; who incorporate environmental themes into curriculum; and who are committed to fostering environmental awareness in the community. MassDEP leaders said the project center has exposed students to environmental challenges through work on water issues such as nitrogen reduction and emerging contaminants and has provided students with the chance to learn about careers in the environmental field.

鈥淔or 50 years, MassDEP has been protecting our natural resources and working with local communities to ensure the water we drink is safe and healthy,鈥?said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. 鈥淎nd since its founding, WPI鈥檚 Massachusetts Water Resource Outreach Center has shared this commitment to safeguarding our vital water resources. Students are gaining hands-on experience to address the many challenges facing our drinking water today, including lead, PFAS, and a changing climate. We are grateful to have partners like WROC to ensure the next generation of water specialists are well equipped to take on these challenges and maintain Massachusetts鈥?lt;/span> drinking water as some of the cleanest in the nation.鈥?lt;/p>

Dehner accepts award and governor's citation from John Beling, deputy commissioner of policy and planning for MassDEP

Dehner expressed gratitude for everyone at the MassDEP and for their efforts and collaboration with the WROC. 鈥淚 think the award is a recognition of this effective partnership,鈥?she said. 鈥淭hrough collaboration with the MassDEP, our project center is able to help WPI students understand the value of being civically engaged and the interplay between federal and state environmental agencies, local communities, industry, and organizations.鈥?lt;/p>

Dehner credited Andrea Briggs, deputy director of MassDEP鈥檚 central region, with helping her and Mathisen bring the evolving goals of the WROC to fruition. For example, in the spring Dehner, Mathisen, and Briggs worked with students to develop a comprehensive immersion program to intentionally and thoughtfully expose students to the breadth of water resource career opportunities and to help students understand the complex relationship between state, federal, and local governance. During a single project term, for example, students may tour a water treatment plant and a town鈥檚 stormwater infrastructure facilities, conduct hands-on activities such as water quality testing and participate in a MassDEP roundtable with employees from different water-related divisions.

Also starting this spring, WROC began publishing student projects on QUBES Hub, an open educational resource site. This gives residents, organizations, and municipal officials an additional way to access the resources students develop. These materials can also be found on the WROC website.

Through the center and WPI鈥檚 commitment to delivering project-based learning, students have had the opportunity to complete more than 40 projects directly with MassDEP or other sponsors, including local municipalities and the Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition.

WROC student team learning about the requirements for completing culvert assessment in Sutton

Those projects have included creating educational campaigns to alert the public to the dangers of PFAS chemical contamination in drinking water; conducting outreach to inform private well owners about groundwater contamination; producing a manual to help cities and towns consider establishing funding mechanisms to manage the impacts of stormwater runoff; and helping the City of Worcester develop guidelines for monitoring bacteria levels in ponds and lakes. In many cases, towns and cities have chosen to partner with WPI students to help tackle important water issues that demand resources and staff beyond what they can dedicate.

Mathisen said the projects give students the chance to make an impact in communities by doing hands-on work in partnership with others. The projects also help the students learn how water resource policy is created and implemented and provide opportunities to receive mentorship from professionals working in water management and environmental protection.

鈥淥ne of the goals of the WROC is to help our students gain leadership experience and the perspective to make a difference and have a positive impact on sustainability in their future careers,鈥?said Mathisen. 鈥淭he projects not only help to educate students and the public, they also show students the importance of bringing together people with different experiences, perspectives, and talents to address an issue, whether it鈥檚 a water resources challenge or a problem in a different area.鈥?lt;/p>

Students learn about the water protection work of MassDEP employees in the department's Central Regional Office

The WROC is one of more than 50 WPI project centers on six continents where students conduct term-long projects required for graduation. At this specific center, students can complete their Interactive Qualifying Project, a signature WPI project that places students in interdisciplinary teams to work in partnership with a community-based sponsor on a challenge at the intersection of science, technology, and the needs of society.

Dehner accepted the award on behalf of herself and Mathisen during a MassDEP 50th anniversary celebration at Rubin Campus Center. John Beling, the department鈥檚 deputy commissioner of policy and planning, read a citation from Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll in recognition of the WPI educators and WROC鈥檚 10th anniversary, stating, 鈥淢assachusetts commends your ongoing efforts addressing municipal water resource challenges through this hands-on community engagement and partnership.鈥?amp;nbsp;

Beling added that the state鈥檚 partnership with the project center provides benefits both to students and the MassDEP. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so important that we expose students to the work we do and to help them understand what we do,鈥?he said. 鈥淲e get a lot out of it. Hopefully they get a lot out of it. I hope this relationship continues and is as beneficial as it has been for the last 10 years.鈥?amp;nbsp;

Students Explore Careers in Sustainability Through Mentorship Program

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

A new mentorship program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is guiding students with an interest in sustainability to cultivate careers that not only support their passion but also sustainably support their futures.

In the fall of 2024, a group of faculty and staff came together to start the Sustainable Career Mentorship Program. It connects WPI students with professionals working in green jobs and positions involving sustainability for one-on-one meetings at least twice per year. Organizers of the program say it addresses a request from students to learn more about the types of jobs that exist in these fields and how to find them, and a growing demand from employers.

According to the World Economic Forum鈥檚 Future of Jobs Report 2025, climate change adaptation is projected to be the third-largest contributor to global job growth by 2030, while climate change mitigation is expected to be the sixth largest contributor. Together, those fields are expected to generate an additional 8 million jobs during that time. A U.S. Department of Energy report finds that the number of jobs in clean energy grew by 4.2% in 2023. That rate was more than double the rate of job growth across the overall U.S. economy.

Elisabeth Stoddard, associate professor of teaching

鈥淲e鈥檙e preparing our students for a job market that鈥檚 actively looking for qualified people,鈥?says Elisabeth "Lisa" Stoddard, associate professor of teaching in environmental and sustainability studies and in The Global School, who is an organizer of the mentorship program. 鈥淚f we can take students鈥?passions and interests and we can prepare students through the mentorship program to be able to show up for these jobs qualified and excited, we鈥檙e enhancing their ability to get jobs that they鈥檙e passionate about and fill positions to address the climate crisis.鈥?lt;/span>

Any student with an interest in sustainability can join the program. They need only to provide information about their goals for having a mentor in this space to help organizers identify a professional who is a good match for their interests. Stoddard said discussions with mentors can include everything from learning about what types of jobs fit a student鈥檚 interests and helping them identify internships or research opportunities to reviewing their resume and offering advice on how to shift into a sustainability career from an existing job.

A virtual meeting allows a mentor and mentee to connect. Photographed: JoLeisa Cramer, manager, field science operations 鈥?northeast, National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON); Jacob Friend 鈥?5 Environmental & Sustainability Studies, Data Science

The wide range of students and professionals in the program represents the variety of opportunities available in green and sustainable careers. Seventeen WPI students, majoring in fields from robotics engineering and data science to civil, environmental, and architectural engineering and environmental and sustainability studies, are currently mentees. There are 25 mentors, including 14 who are WPI alumni. Mentors hold positions in areas that include corporate sustainability, energy, civil engineering, water quality and management, ecology, and climate adaptation. They hold jobs in private industry, nonprofits, and government; others own their own businesses.

Tara Checko 鈥?5, a double major in environmental and sustainability studies and mechanical engineering, meets regularly with her mentor, Erin Spadavecchia 鈥?5, who is manager of sustainable building solutions for ASSA ABLOY, a manufacturer of door opening solutions. When they meet, they catch up on life, discuss ways to advance sustainability initiatives in the workplace, and develop new connections with people who specialize in sustainability. They鈥檙e also making plans to attend the Design for Freedom Summit, a yearly gathering focused on responsible supply chain practices and the removal of forced labor in the building materials supply chain.

鈥淚鈥檝e enjoyed talking with Erin about how sustainability can manifest itself in large corporate settings,鈥?says Checko. 鈥淚 wanted to know more about how I can help to push these initiatives. Inherently, it can be harder to change minds and institute new policies in larger companies. I鈥檝e met with Erin about ways to overcome this mentality for corporations.鈥?lt;/p>

Tara Checko 鈥?5 meets with her mentor Erin Spadavecchia 鈥?5

For Spadavecchia, serving as a mentor represents an opportunity to actively give back to her alma mater and to share her experience to help others in their career journeys. 鈥淢entorship accelerates knowledge share, instills confidence, creates a sense of belonging, and fosters upward mobility,鈥?says Spadavecchia. 鈥淢y hope is that Tara and all the mentees feel that a meaningful connection has been established鈥攕omeone always in their corner, a safe place to reach out to for advice, a support system. All of these are essential for the ups and downs that eventually play out throughout a career and life.鈥?lt;/p>

While the mentorship program is a new offering, it was created as a natural offshoot of WPI鈥檚 ongoing Careers for Sustainable and Just Communities Networking and Mentoring Events. The annual events, held since 2022, typically bring together more than 100 students and dozens of employers in sustainability fields for several hours of informal discussion, questions and answers, and networking.

Stoddard has been a driving force in the development of both the mentorship program and the annual event series. She has partnered with staff and faculty across the university, including Laureen Elgert, head of the Department of Integrative and Global Studies; Mimi Sheller, dean of The Global School; Robert Krueger, head of the Department of Social Science and Policy Studies; Paul Mathisen, director of sustainability and associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering; Nicole Luiz, manager of energy and sustainability; Brittany Taylor, assistant director of career services in the Career Development Center; and Hannah Shick, operations coordinator in The Global School; as well as with members of the WPI Green Team, a student-led organization that promotes sustainability.

Pamela (Giasson) Lynch 鈥?5, president of the alumni association, participates with students and other professionals at a Careers for Sustainable and Just Communities Networking Event

Alumni connections, through the Office of Lifetime Engagement and the WPI Alumni Association, have also been critical to supporting the growth of the ranks of mentors and networking event participants. Pamela (Giasson) Lynch 鈥?5, president of the alumni association, participates in both programs. She says society needs to do more work around sustainable development and she believes future generations will benefit from opportunities like these provided at WPI. 鈥淭he work to establish and grow the Sustainable Career Mentorship Program and the Careers for Sustainable and Just Communities Networking and Mentoring Events is critical,鈥?she says. 鈥淪ome of this work is planting seeds for trees under which our generation may never sit, but the shade they provide will shape a better future.鈥?lt;/p>

Organizers of the mentorship program are collecting feedback from participants that can be used to improve the program moving forward. Stoddard says initial responses suggest the one-on-one meetings have expanded the mentees鈥?knowledge about available opportunities in sustainability and provided mentors with meaningful opportunities to help students make progress and connections.

Stoddard says her work to expand the program is a way she can support students and address the climate challenge. 鈥淲e have a cohort of students developing expertise and knowledge and becoming ready for the job market to tackle these global problems that are at a crisis level,鈥?she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting and inspiring to see because we need that diverse set of knowledge, majors, minds, and insight to address that kind of problem.鈥?lt;/p>

WPI Awards Seed Grants to Early-Stage Research Projects

leckelbecker — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

WPI has awarded $203,457 in grants from the Gapontsev Family Collaborative Venture Fund to three faculty-led teams focusing on research into energy-saving window coatings, advanced sensors to detect chemical and biological substances, and a wound-healing, antibacterial biomaterial that is activated by light.

The one-year awards will fund early-stage, interdisciplinary research that could lead to bigger projects, external collaborations, and future funding proposals.

鈥淪eed grants provide critical early support for projects with great potential,鈥?says Bogdan Vernescu, vice president and vice provost for research and innovation. 鈥淚 am delighted to congratulate the recipients of these awards, and I want to thank the VPG Foundation for catalyzing discovery and innovation at WPI through their support.鈥?lt;/p>

The Gapontsev Family Collaborative Venture Fund was made possible through the generosity of the VPG Foundation, which was established by the family of Valentin Gapontsev, founder of IPG Photonics. He received an honorary doctor of engineering degree from WPI in 2001 in recognition of his contributions to the field of photonics and the photonics industry. The VPG Foundation gift of $645,000 supports 鈥淏eyond These Towers,鈥?WPI鈥檚 most ambitious and comprehensive campaign since its founding in 1865.

The new awards represent the third round of funding from the Gapontsev Family Collaborative Venture Fund.

2024 Annual Awards Honor Faculty and Teaching Assistants

jcain — Mon, 06 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The 2024 Faculty Honors Convocation, held April 26 in the Rubin Campus Center Odeum, celebrated outstanding WPI faculty members and teaching assistants. Awards were presented during the ceremony to recognize excellence in areas including innovation, teaching, service to community, research, and academic advising. Here are the winners:

Karen Troy, professor and associate department head in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, received the Board of Trustees Chair鈥檚 Exemplary Faculty Prize. The award honors excellence across areas of faculty performance, including teaching, research, and scholarship. Troy was recognized for inspiring and mentoring students, exposing them to the excitement of lab experimentation, and researching biomechanics, bone strength, and risk factors for bone stress injury. Read the award citation here.

Greg Lewin, assistant teaching professor and associate head in the Department of Robotics Engineering, received the Trustees鈥?Award for Outstanding Teaching. The award recognizes faculty who display excellence in teaching and outstanding professional contributions. Lewin was recognized for his engaging approach to presenting introductory robotics, for helping students in the lab, and for being invested in the success and well-being of students. Read the award citation here.

Jamal Yagoobi, the George F. Fuller Professor in the Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, received the Trustees鈥?Award for Outstanding Research & Creative Scholarship. The award recognizes outstanding teaching, research, and creative scholarship, academic advising, and service to the community. Yagoobi was recognized for his significant contributions to the understanding of drying and thermal processes and connecting industry and academic research. Read the award citation here.

Leonard Albano, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering, received the Trustees鈥?Award for Outstanding Academic Advising. The award recognizes the guidance and mentorship offered by academic advisors through stages of professional and personal development. Albano was recognized for always leaving his door open for students, going out of his way to make students feel seen, and helping them grow as people and professionals. Read the award citation here.

Mark Richman, associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and WPI鈥檚 Secretary of the Faculty, received the Denise Nicoletti Trustees鈥?Award for Service to Community. The award honors the memory and spirit of service of the first tenure-track female faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the co-founder of Camp Reach, a summer program which introduces girls to engineering and science. Richman was recognized for supporting and elevating people in the WPI community. Read the award citation here.

Joseph Aguilar, assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Humanities & Arts, Kate McIntyre, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities & Arts, and Rose Bohrer, assistant professor in the Computer Science Department, received the Romeo L. Moruzzi Young Faculty Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Education. The award honors the memory of a longtime faculty member who was a key player in bringing tenure to WPI and creating the WPI Plan, which revolutionized undergraduate education on campus. Aguilar and McIntyre were recognized for their work to make creative writing thrive at WPI. Read the award citation here. Bohrer was recognized for advancing computer science education at WPI through a redesign of a programming language course and integration of theory with social and ethical considerations. Read the award citation here.

Rebecca Gilchrist, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, received the Teaching Assistant of the Year Award. The award honors the contributions graduate students make to the quality and success of WPI鈥檚 curriculum. Gilchrist was recognized for teaching with humor and skill and allowing students to leave the fear of failure behind. Read the award citation here. Alexandra Harrison, a graduate student in the Department of Chemical Engineering, received honorable mention for her excellent support of students and faculty.

Number of Teaching Professors Pursuing Tenure at WPI Grows

leckelbecker — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has appointed 13 additional teaching professors to the university鈥檚 pioneering tenure track that recognizes and rewards excellence in teaching, bringing the total number of teaching faculty members on the tenure pathway to 43. The appointments take effect July 1.

The newest cohort represents the third round of appointments to the innovative tenure track. Sixteen faculty members were appointed in 2022; the first cohort of appointees, named in 2021, included 14 faculty members.

鈥淎ll of these faculty members are accomplished teachers who have demonstrated their commitment and talent for engaging students to think, learn, and collaborate in classrooms, in labs, and on projects around the globe鈥攚ork that is critical to providing the distinctive WPI education that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and passion to address the world鈥檚 great problems,鈥?says Provost Wole Soboyejo. 鈥淚 am delighted that these outstanding educators have the opportunity to pursue tenure.鈥?lt;/span>

Research universities such as WPI typically award tenure only to faculty members who balance teaching, research, and service. WPI鈥檚 tenure path for teaching professors opened the pursuit of tenure to those full-time faculty members whose primary responsibility is teaching, as well.

WPI launched its tenure track for teaching faculty members in 2021 after more than three years of study and discussion among faculty members, administrators, and trustees. Those who pursue and achieve tenure on this path are known as assistant, associate, or (full) professors of teaching, and are expected to spend most of their time teaching while also demonstrating professional growth and service to their academic communities.

The teaching track to tenure was part of a bundle of changes made in 2021 that also secured longer-term contracts, academic freedom, and the right to faculty governance participation for full-time teaching faculty who are not eligible to pursue tenure.

Interim President Wole Soboyejo, Balancing Research with Administration, Leads Study Showing Nanoparticles Can Adhere to Difficult-to-Treat Breast Cancer Cells

leckelbecker — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

When Wole Soboyejo suspended his duties as provost to serve as interim president of WPI in May 2022, he moved to a different office and took on challenging new duties, but he continued to make time for his research鈥攕omething he considers critical to his academic role.

Soboyejo continued his research with an interdisciplinary team of undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and research faculty members. The team recently reported in the journal Biomaterials Advances that gold nanoparticles coated with a polymer and linked to an anti-cancer agent can bind to breast cancer cells that are difficult to target.

鈥淔or one hour of every weekday, I share my knowledge and experience with a team that does work that I find most fulfilling,鈥?Soboyejo says. 鈥淚 also get tremendous joy from seeing my students develop into scientists and engineers that are tackling some of the important global challenges of our time. Perhaps most important, my efforts in research help me to remain sensitive to the challenges that my faculty colleagues face on a daily basis as they try to engage in research that is meaningful and important to them.鈥?lt;/p>

A student who has worked with Soboyejo says the researcher鈥檚 expertise, guidance, and鈥攎ost important鈥攄edication of time, have made a lasting impact.

鈥淧resident Soboyejo鈥檚 ability to engage his team in complementary roles requires great scientific vision and taught me how to look at the bigger picture in approaching real-world problems,鈥?says postdoctoral fellow Arvand Navabi 鈥?2.

The researchers reported that targeted tiny gold particles adhered better to triple-negative breast cancer cells than they did to normal breast cells, making the particles possible candidates for the delivery of anti-cancer treatments to malignant cells that resist other targeted therapies.

WPI Researchers Receive New Funding for Sustainable Concrete Substitute

jlevy2 — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) researchers Nima Rahbar and Suzanne Scarlata have received $692,386 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to improve and develop new functions for their Enzymatic Construction Material (ECM), a 鈥渓iving鈥?low-cost negative-emission construction material they created to address one of the largest contributors to climate change鈥攃oncrete鈥攂y providing what they refer to as 鈥渁 pathway to repair or even replace [traditional] concrete in the future.鈥?Rahbar and Scarlata have already made their research available for commercial use through a start-up called Enzymatic, Inc.; this new funding will also allow them to:

explore new avenues for ECM鈥檚 use, including repairing cracks in different types of glass, such as eyeglass lenses, cell phone screens, and car windshields.
develop a program to educate diverse populations of underprivileged girls鈥攊n Worcester and in Africa鈥攁bout engineering and construction.

About ECM 鈥?the need, the science, and the process

According to Statista, between 1995 and 2020 worldwide cement production jumped from 1.39 billion to 4.1 billion tons, making it the second most widely used substance on Earth next to water. In addition to their efforts to help mitigate the massive climate change impacts created by concrete, Rahbar and Scarlata plan to use the new funding to refine and optimize ECM and the processes to create it, and expand its use to different materials.

Biological enzymes are catalysts that drive chemical reactions. ECM is made through a process involving an enzyme known as carbonic anhydrase鈥攆ound in all living cells鈥攖hat has the unique ability to react with CO2 to rapidly remove the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. This reaction creates calcium carbonate crystals, which serve as ECM鈥檚 main ingredient. A sand slurry is also added, as well as a polymer, which holds the ECM together during its early stages, much like scaffolding does during the construction of a building. Through this process, ECM can 鈥渉eal itself" and fix cracks or other imperfections that may develop over time, retaining its strength through as many as six self-healing cycles.

Through extensive testing and experimentation, the research team found that ECM has 鈥渙utstanding鈥?compression strength, rivaling traditional mortar, making it strong enough to be used in the construction of buildings as compressive elements. It also does not require baking at high temperatures like a traditional brick does, and it can be made quickly, unlike the 28 days needed to cure concrete. ECM can also be produced at a low cost as the percentage of the enzymes is minute. This new NSF funding will help the team improve the processes that will allow for EMC to move more swiftly from the lab to construction sites.

A new pathway for the material could also be used to fix cracked or fractured glass. Scarlata says the inspiration came to her through something many parents can relate to鈥攈er children accidentally dropped and broke their cell phone screens鈥攍eading her to want to find a way to repair, rather than replace, the phones鈥?glass screens. While Scarlata and Rahbar don鈥檛 have any data yet on ECM鈥檚 ability to repair glass, they believe it is possible. 鈥淭his method of repairing glass would save a lot of time, energy, and waste, says Scarlata. Rahbar adds, 鈥渋t鈥檚 a dream right now, but that science evolves 鈥?through dreams.鈥?lt;/p>

What it means for girls, and why it matters to the construction industry

In addition, the grant will allow Rahbar and Scarlata to develop a program based on their lab work on ECM to educate and inspire underrepresented and underprivileged girls about engineering and construction, an industry where the gender gap is stark; according to OSHA, only 9 percent of construction workers in this country are women.

The researchers plan to partner with organizations in Worcester, including the local chapter of Girls Inc. to create summer programs and after-school programs in which girls will design a six-inch model building, make a mold for it using 3D printing, and build the structure out of ECM. Rahbar and Scarlata are also collaborating with the African University of Science and Technology to host visiting graduate students at WPI and conduct additional summer programs for this group. 鈥淐onstruction has traditionally been a man鈥檚 field and has been overlooked by young women as a potential career, but women have a lot to contribute, in all areas, including construction,鈥?said Scarlata.

The company making ECM a commercial reality

Working with Todd Keillor in WPI鈥檚 Office of Technology Commercialization, Scarlata and Rahbar created Enzymatic, Inc., a start-up company launched to realize commercial opportunities for ECM and an earlier product鈥攁 self-healing concrete鈥攖hey developed in their initial collaboration. Scarlata and Rahbar serve as scientific advisors for the company. CEO Charles Maddox is a WPI MBA graduate with expertise in the field. He will be developing and driving the business plan for the organization. Keillor says finding Maddox and working with him were critical factors in the formation of the company. 鈥淭his is often the missing piece when trying to get an academic-based startup off the ground," he says, "and Charlie completes the puzzle. I鈥檓 confident he will have the company poised for growth.鈥?lt;/p>

WPI鈥檚 Institute of Science and Technology for Development (InSTeD) Receives Nearly $900,000 for Work with Global Partners to Co-Create Sustainable Sanitation, Education, and Economic Initiatives in Ethiopia

jlevy2 — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Here in the U.S., many of us take clean, working toilets for granted, but in some parts of the world, easy access to such basic sanitation supplies and services is much harder鈥攊f not near impossible鈥攖o find. For example, according to UNICEF, more than 70% of the population in Eastern and Southern Africa - approximately 340 million people鈥攈ave little to no access to soap and water for hand washing or facilities for the safe disposal of human waste. The impacts of such shortfalls are profound; the World Health Organization notes that such basic sanitation services not only reduce the risk of disease and the impact of malnutrition, but also promote dignity and safety, and even boost school attendance.

To help address this considerable challenge, WPI students, researchers, and their partners are working to bring more adequate and dignified sanitation to Ethiopia at a reasonable cost. Through a five-year, $900,000 grant awarded by the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance at the United States Agency for International Development and by Catholic Relief Services work is now underway to create a sustainable educational experience, improve the design, and implement WPI MicroFlush toilets鈥攕ustainable compost toilets that use handwashing water to flush.

The WPI MicroFlush toilets use a 鈥減our flush鈥?model in which water from the attached sink flushes the toilet when a user washes their hands鈥攕aving water while keeping the toilets off the grid, hygienic, and odor-free. The toilets accomplish these surprising feats with two key components鈥攖he MicroFlush valve, and earthworms, which can digest and process waste, and through that process simultaneously create valuable compost and fertilizer for farms and gardens in the area.

The sanitation project is part of the new Stephen J. Mecca Lab for Sustainable Development at WPI, which is part of WPI鈥檚 Institute for Science and Technology for Development (InSTeD). Mecca was a professor at Providence College who invented the technology that will be used in the toilets. The Mecca Lab brings together researchers from different disciplines and departments at WPI and other institutions, including the director of the lab, Terrence McGoldrick, a Providence College professor and WPI-affiliated researcher.

New Negative-Emission Construction Material Could Help Mitigate Climate Change and Improve Infrastructure

jlevy2 — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Mitigating climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world鈥檚 population. Now, a team of researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has developed an entirely new material that鈥檚 a low-cost, high-impact sustainable solution to address one of the largest contributors to climate change鈥攃oncrete.

According to Statisa, between 1995 and 2020 worldwide cement production jumped from 1.39 billion to 4.1 billion tons, making it the second most widely used substance on Earth next to water. Due to how ubiquitous concrete is, and its high carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, 鈥渉umanity needs to come up with an alternative to concrete,鈥?says Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering Associate Professor Nima Rahbar.

As published in the journal Matter, the research at WPI has led to the creation of a self-healing Enzymatic Construction Material (ECM), which the research team describes as a 鈥渓iving material鈥?that 鈥減rovides a pathway to repair or even replace [traditional] concrete in the future.鈥?lt;/p>

Biological enzymes are catalysts that drive chemical reactions. The material uses an enzyme, known as carbonic anhydrase, that is found in all living cells. Carbonic anhydrase efficiently reacts with CO2, and 鈥渉as the unique ability to rapidly remove the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. This property has allowed us to formulate a carbon-negative material that we hope may ultimately replace concrete,鈥?says Richard Whitcomb Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Suzanne Scarlata.

ECM is made through a process involving an enzyme reaction that creates calcium carbonate crystals, which serve as the material鈥檚 main ingredient. A sand slurry is also added to the material, as well as a polymer, which holds the material together during its early stages, much like scaffolding does during the construction of a building. The material can also heal itself if cracks develop from wear and tear over time, or from other damage, retaining its strength through as many as six self-healing cycles.

This research builds on an interdisciplinary collaboration between Rahbar, Scarlata and Ph.D. student Shuai Wang. The team previously created a new type of self-healing concrete. The new negative emission construction material takes it a step further, leaving concrete behind to create an entirely new substance that is, in part, made from carbon dioxide: CO2 goes into the material during its production, and the material also consumes CO2 during the self-healing process. In fact, the team devised a calculation that shows 鈥渙ne cubic yard of ECM stores 18 pounds of CO2, while one cubic yard of concrete emits 400 pounds of CO2,鈥?says Rahbar.

Through extensive testing and experimentation, the research team found the material has what they describe as 鈥渙utstanding鈥?compression strength, rivaling traditional mortar, making it strong enough to be used in the construction of buildings as compressive elements. It also does not require baking at high temperatures like a traditional brick does, and it can be made quickly, unlike the 28 days needed to cure concrete. ECM can also be produced at a low cost as the percentage of the enzymes is minute.

While we may not see ECM at a construction site immediately, it could not be too long before we do. The research team plans to take steps to bring the material out of the lab soon, first by enhancing the properties of ECM by 鈥渙ptimizing the catalytic efficiency of enzymes, the property of scaffolds, and the mechanics of crystal structure,鈥?and then by starting to commercialize the product.