The WPI Podcast

Rare earths aren’t new—and despite their name, they aren’t especially rare. So why are they consistently making headlines in the business and technology news? On this episode of The WPI Podcast, we’ll break down what rare earths are, why they matter, and whether innovation can continue without them. We’ll also explore how WPI researchers are developing cleaner ways to recover critical materials, r...

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape our world, and raise urgent questions in the news, we revisit our January 2026 conversation with Yunus Telliel, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Arts at WPI. He explores the ethical challenges surrounding AI, who is responsible for its impacts, and why human values must remain at the center of technological innovation.

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore asset mapping, a tool teams can use to lay the foundation for more effective and equitable teamwork. Lydia Ellen Tonani-Penha, a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and a fellow at WPI’s SWEET Center (Supporting WPI through Effective and Equitable Teamwork), discusses her role at the center, help...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore the challenges and rewards of working in teams. Most people find themselves working on a team at some point in their career, and this episode can help everyone be a better teammate and make the most of teamwork. Anne Ogilvie, the director for team learning in The Global School and the leader of the SWEET Center (Supporting WPI through Effect...

What happens when a student has a big idea—and what happens when it doesn’t work? Ardian Preci, director of innovation and entrepreneurship programs and I3, the student innovation lab at WPI, discusses how mentors can encourage creativity, offer honest feedback, and guide students through the risks, setbacks, and breakthroughs that are all part of innovation.

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore how a memorable interactive experience during a visit to Walt Disney World as a child led industrial engineer Reagan Hajjar to chase a dream of creating magical moments in theme parks. Hajjar, a 2023 Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduate, discusses her journey to working in the industrial engineering and business analytics division at Universal Des...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore student research opportunities in university settings.  Yuxiang (Shawn) Liu, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, shares his perspectives on the definition of research and the personal and professional growth students can experience by engaging in research with a faculty member. He also discusses the s...

Whether you’re sending an email, making a phone call, or using the navigation in your car, you’re benefiting from the out-of-this-world advancements in space-based communications—which is pretty much any data exchanged via satellite. This year, we’re celebrating WPI alum Robert Goddard’s innovations in rocketry. One hundred years and over 26,000 satellite launches after Goddard’s first launch, the...

Sending a student to college is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with plenty of questions. How involved should parents be? When should they step in, and when should they step back? In this episode, WPI's Dean of Students shares practical advice on supporting college students through academic challenges, independence, well-being, and everything in between. Whether you're preparing for move-...

Can artificial intelligence help create better public policy and stronger communities? In this episode, WPI professors Rob Krueger and Lane Harrison discuss how AI is transforming social science research and providing policymakers with new tools to better understand complex societal challenges. The conversation also explores Poverty Stoplight, an innovative initiative that empowers families to ass...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore ways that students who are getting ready to start college, at any institution, can manage the transition so they’re prepared to succeed academically.   Paul Reilly, assistant dean of student success, and Raghavan Rajkumar, an undergraduate student in computer science and data science and a former summer transition assistant, share practical...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore how communities can better prepare for hurricanes and their long-term effects. Sarah Molinari, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Integrative and Global Studies, discusses lessons learned from damaging storms in modern Caribbean history. The conversation highlights examples of grassroots preparedness and response strategies, the challen...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we speak with Paula Gibbons ’26, ahead of her upcoming graduation, about her experiences in classrooms, labs, academic projects, student organization activities, performance spaces, research settings, and more as a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Gibbons, a lifelong Worcester resident who is majoring in biomedical engineering and minoring in biology,...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore why video, images, and other content generated by artificial intelligence seems to be everywhere on social media. Rodica Neamtu, professor of teaching in the Department of Computer Science, explains how AI-generated content is easily produced and distributed and why it can be difficult to distinguish it from human-generated content. She discusses the...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore common running injuries and the engineering research aimed at predicting or preventing them. Karen Troy, the John Woodman Higgins Professor in Engineering and head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, explains her research that examines bone stress injuries and the role of biomechanics and physiology in bone health and injury. Troy’s research...

On this episode of The WPI Podcast, WPI’s Director of the Heebner Career Development Center, Amanda Laungani, unpacks how today’s students—and WPI alumni—can thrive in a job market transformed by AI and rapid technological change. She explains how the entry level is evolving—and how WPI equips students with the human and technical skills employers now demand. Listeners get an inside look at how WP...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore how K–12 robotics programs are igniting a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by giving students hands-on opportunities to design, build, and problem-solve in real time.  This conversation with Colleen Shaver, the director of the Robotics Resource Center at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, highlights how the university s...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we celebrate 100 years since the “Father of Modern Rocketry,” Robert Goddard (Class of 1908), conducted the first successful launch of a liquid-fueled rocket, a development that opened the door to space exploration.  Nikolaos Gatsonis, professor and head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, and John Blandino, professor in the Department of Aerospace...

Step inside engineering education in action with Dean on the Scene, featuring Daniel Linzell, the Bernard M. Gordon Dean of Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Instead of a traditional studio interview, this episode takes listeners on a walking tour across campus—through labs, collaborative spaces, and student project environments—offering a firsthand look at how ideas become real-worl...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore NASCAR racing from an engineer’s perspective.  Phil Surgen, director of technology for Trackhouse Racing, former crew chief for NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain, and a 2004 Worcester Polytechnic Institute mechanical engineering graduate, discusses the role of engineering, technology, and teamwork in competing at the highest level of stock c...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore the role of engineering in safe skiing and ski racing, and design improvements in athletic equipment that could help prevent ACL injuries, which are common in skiing and other sports.  Christopher Brown, professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, director of WPI’s sports engineering laboratory, former collegiate All-Amer...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore the launch of Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence—why the demand for specialized AI talent is accelerating, what makes WPI’s approach distinctive, and how the program prepares students to apply AI across disciplines and industries. Featuring faculty leaders behind the degree’s design, the conversation h...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore why sticking with your money goals is harder than it seems. Alexander Smith, associate professor in the Department of Social Science and Policy Studies, explains how personal finance is deeply influenced by behavioral economics, or the psychology of decision-making. He describes how emotions and a focus on short-term goals can make it hard to follow a...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Purvi Shah, associate professor in The Business School, explains the marketing strategies behind what you’re seeing in stores and online during the holidays. From advertising and early-season deals to nostalgia and artificial intelligence, the holidays provide a master class in marketing. Understanding it all can make you an empowered shopper with knowledge...

Have you ever wondered if a gift you gave someone was something they wanted and actually would use? Have you felt the joy of receiving a gift that showed the giver really cares about and knows you? There’s a lot of emotion around gift giving and, thankfully, there’s research about it as well. In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Farnoush Reshadi, assistant professor in The Business School, dis...