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Education

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Education

Education

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Education

Education

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Education

Education

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5D AGO

E26: Money Behavior and Personal Finance | Alexander Smith—Social Science and Policy Studies | Aedan Bingham—Robotics Engineering, Economics

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 long-term financial plan, and how commitment devices and tapping into motivation can help. Smith outlines six essential rules for building wealth and shares why financial self-awareness is just as important as financial literacy. Aedan Bingham, a student majoring in robotics engineering and economics, also shares his findings from a research project that surveyed college students about what they know and want to know about personal finance. The pair discusses how this research is helping to empower students with knowledge about topics including saving, investing, taxes, and credit. Related links: Alexander Smith’s personal finance website, Follow The 6 “What WPI Students Know about Personal Finance,” by Aedan Bingham Smith discusses the impact of buy-now-pay-later financing on financial planning in the New York Times

5d ago

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47 min
04/14/2025

E6: Global Projects Program at 50 | Stephen McCauley & Lorraine Higgins, WPI’s Melbourne, Australia Project Center

This academic year, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is celebrating 50 years of the Global Projects Program. Through the program, students conduct academic and research projects off campus at more than 50 WPI project centers on six continents for entire terms at a time. In this episode of The WPI Podcast, the co-directors of WPI’s Melbourne, Australia, Project Center share their experience and reflections on what these off-campus projects mean for students, project sponsors, and themselves. Guests: Lorraine Higgins, a teaching professor, and Stephen McCauley, an associate professor of teaching, are both in the Department of Integrative and Global Studies at WPI. You may also read the transcript below.

04/14/2025

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39 min
12/17/2025

E25: Holiday Marketing 101 | Purvi Shah | The Business School

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 to tackle gift buying with ease. The conversation explores trends including AI tools shoppers can use to save time and money, the role of influencers, and the emotional pull of nostalgia that influences what we buy. This holiday-themed episode is the second of two during the 2025 season designed to help you shop with confidence. Our previous episode focused on the research behind gift giving. Related links: The Business School Shah explains AI tools to empower shoppers on NBC Boston Shah explains nostalgic brand love in Food Navigator USA

12/17/2025

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47 min
08/13/2025

E15: Wildfire Research, Part Two | Nan (Nancy) Ma, Assistant Professor, and Rachel Hurley, PhD Candidate, Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering

Researchers across departments at WPI are studying how wildfires start, spread, and impact communities. In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Nan (Nancy) Ma, assistant professor, and Rachel Hurley, PhD candidate, both in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, discuss their work to understand the impacts of wildfire smoke on indoor environments. Ma studies the effects of smoke exposure on children’s sleep health. Hurley conducts research on how building materials found indoors absorb and re-emit smoke particles. This is the second of two episodes focused on wildfire-related research at WPI. See Episode 13 for a discussion with researchers in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering about their studies on wildfire behavior. Related links: Wildfires Explained WPI Experts on Wildfires Published study referred to in Nancy Ma interview EPA information on protecting yourself from wildfire smoke indoors American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers: wildfire response resources

08/13/2025

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41 min
08/06/2025

E14: Unpacking Campus Life | Matthew Foster, Director, Housing & Residential Experience

From perfectly coordinated Pinterest boards to last-minute duffel bag packers, this episode dives into the highs, lows, and hilarious moments of living on campus. The director of WPI's housing and residential experience center shares insider tips, real-life stories, and advice for students and parents navigating the exciting new world of college housing.

08/06/2025

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32 min
07/30/2025

E13: Wildfire Research, Part One | James Urban, assistant professor, and Albert Simeoni, professor and department head, Fire Protection Engineering

Researchers across departments at WPI are studying how wildfires start, spread, and impact communities. In this episode of The WPI Podcast, James Urban, assistant professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering, and Albert Simeoni, professor and head of the Department of Fire Protection Engineering, discuss their research on fire behavior and how they’re working to share the knowledge generated from this research to protect people and property. This is the first of two episodes focused on wildfire-related research at WPI. In the next episode on the topic, researchers in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering will talk about their work to understand the impacts of wildfire smoke on indoor environments, with a focus on children’s sleep health and the absorption of smoke by building materials. Related links: Wildfires Explained WPI Experts on Wildfires Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center National Fire Protection Association: Firewise USA (wildfire risk reduction program)

07/30/2025

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47 min
11/05/2025

E21: Thinking with AI | Erin Solovey | Computer Science

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Erin Solovey, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science, introduces the concept of “thinking with AI,” a vision of human-centered intelligent systems designed as collaborative partners that enhance decision-making and creativity. She also discusses her research that seeks to make technology more intuitive and responsive. Solovey’s work lies at the intersection of AI, human-computer interaction, and neuroscience and is focused on how people interact with artificial intelligence. Related links: AI at WPI Human-Computer Interaction Lab Interacting with AI at Work: Perceptions and Opportunities from the UK Judiciary Neuroscience at WPI Media: Contact Our Faculty AI Experts The Symposium on Human-Computer Interaction for Work

11/05/2025

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30 min
12/01/2025

E23: Engineering a Cultural Connection | Sophia Gross | Sarah Gardner | Engineers Without Borders

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore how a group of Worcester Polytechnic Institute students are making a global impact and connections with a community in Ecuador. As part of a multiple-year project, WPI’s student chapter of Engineers Without Borders USA spent a week in May 2025 working with residents in Shungubug Grande to upgrade their aging water system and address water quality challenges. Sophia Gross writes about the experience for an article in WPI Journal, the university’s magazine. Gross and Sarah Gardner, both members of the student organization, join the podcast to reflect on their time in South America, the extracurricular project that allowed them to exercise their engineering and problem-solving skills for the enhancement of society, the lasting memories they made with community members, and what it was like to document the trip for the magazine in writing and photos. Also, Kris O’Reilly, editor of WPI Journal, shares a preview of other stories you’ll find in the Fall/Winter 2025 issue of the magazine. Related links: WPI Student Chapter, Engineers Without Borders USA Instagram: WPI Student Chapter, Engineers Without Borders USA WPI Journal, “Engineering a Cultural Connection,” by Sophia Gross WPI Journal Fall/Winter 2025 issue The Global Lab

12/01/2025

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51 min
10/22/2025

E20: Decoding Pain | Benjamin Nephew and Emmanuel Agu | NIH IMPACT Study

Chronic pain affects millions of Americans and too often leads to dependence on opioids for relief. But what if doctors could predict, before writing a prescription, whether a patient would respond better to non-drug therapies like meditation? This episode explores groundbreaking research at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) that combines neuroscience, data science, and artificial intelligence to personalize pain treatment with guests Benjamin Nephew, assistant research professor, biology and biotechnology, and Emmanuel Agu, Harold L. Jurist ’61 and Heather E. Jurist Dean’s Professor of Computer Science. The study “Integrative Mindfulness-based Predictive Approach for Chronic low back pain Treatment" or IMPACT is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) initiative. In addition to Nephew and Agu, WPI researchers include Jean King (Principal Investigator), the Peterson Family Dean of Arts and Sciences at WPI, Carolina Ruiz, the WPI Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences and Harold L. Jurist ’61 and Heather E. Jurist Dean’s Professor of Computer Science, Angela Incollingo Rodriguez, assistant professor of psychological and cognitive sciences, Zheyang Wu, professor, mathematical sciences.

10/22/2025

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37 min
12/10/2025

E24: Gift Giving Research | Farnoush Reshadi | The Business School

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, discusses her research on consumer behavior and how people make gift-giving decisions. The discussion explores the research that helps explain why gift givers and gift recipients are sometimes on different pages. This holiday-themed episode is the first of two during the 2025 holiday season to empower you when you give and when you shop. Our next episode will explore holiday marketing and the strategies you see in stores and online retail sites. Related links: The Business School Reshadi discusses gift giving research in USA Today Reshadi discusses wealth and gift giving in Yahoo!Finance

12/10/2025

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39 min

Catch up on the latest news and perspectives at WPI from wherever you are. Listen to audio of our news stories or listen to our expert faculty and staff’s appearances on podcasts. With this convenient audio platform, WPI’s innovative, project-based, and STEM-focused work comes to life. Listen to discover news, conversations, and stories that show how WPI uses a distinct approach to projects, research, technology, global learning, and community partnerships to empower and improve society through technology.

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E26: Money Behavior and Personal Finance | Alexander Smith—Social Science and Policy Studies | Aedan Bingham—Robotics Engineering, Economics

E6: Global Projects Program at 50 | Stephen McCauley & Lorraine Higgins, WPI’s Melbourne, Australia Project Center

E25: Holiday Marketing 101 | Purvi Shah | The Business School

E15: Wildfire Research, Part Two | Nan (Nancy) Ma, Assistant Professor, and Rachel Hurley, PhD Candidate, Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering

E14: Unpacking Campus Life | Matthew Foster, Director, Housing & Residential Experience

E13: Wildfire Research, Part One | James Urban, assistant professor, and Albert Simeoni, professor and department head, Fire Protection Engineering

E21: Thinking with AI | Erin Solovey | Computer Science

E23: Engineering a Cultural Connection | Sophia Gross | Sarah Gardner | Engineers Without Borders

E20: Decoding Pain | Benjamin Nephew and Emmanuel Agu | NIH IMPACT Study

E24: Gift Giving Research | Farnoush Reshadi | The Business School

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