Global Lab @ WPI

Our 2021-2022 school year has come to an end! Listen as we reflect on the year we’ve had. Lauren and Kaitlyn talk about their thoughts leading up to graduation and welcoming Dilce as the new host for "Have You Herd?"! Jeremiah also says his goodbyes as he prepares to start his full-time job. Thanks for sticking with us! See you next year!

In this episode, Ukrainian student Artem Iurkovskyi and Russian student Misha Rashkovskii share their perspectives on the war in Ukraine. Artem talks about the history of conflict between Russia and Ukraine and how the war has impacted him personally. Both students discuss initiatives they’ve been a part of to help Ukrainian refugees and spread awareness.

Join us this week as we talk to National Geographic Explorer and filmmaker, Alizé Carrère! Alizé’s work as an environmental anthropologist focuses on documenting human adaptations to environmental change. Her 4-part docu-series titled “Adaptation” on PBS explores how humans adapt to environmental change. Listen as Alizé talks about her experiences with filming and her ongoing research!

In this episode Lee Vinsel, an Assistant Professor of Science, Technology, and Society at Virginia Tech, joins us to talk about his book “The Innovation Delusion”. Lee discusses how a societal obsession with innovation can cause workers in the areas of maintenance, upkeep, and care to be undervalued.

In this episode, Tarang Shah, a WPI Civil Engineering senior, discusses climate activism and environmental justice. He is the political lead of Sunrise Worcester, which is a local youth climate action group. Erika Sojka is the current Miss Worcester Teen USA. She tells us about her campus involvement and the upcoming competition for Miss Massachussetts Teen USA.

Join us as this week we talk to two teams of environmentalists! Our first interview is with a team of WPI students who are working on a project about the implications of material substitution and green technology. They have been looking into the impacts of cobalt and seabed mining to understand the effects that searching for green technologies can have on human rights and surrounding communities. In our second interview we chat with a team of WPI researchers who are working to turn bamboo into ethanol fuel. This new biofuel process could work to significantly reduce fossil fuel use.

This week, join us as we talk to two IQP teams from the 2020-2021 school year. We chatted with the group of students about their IQP “Mobile Farm Stand: A Vehicle for Education.” Their sponsor was local non-profit educational farm Turn Back Time. Their work to help education at the farm landed them a finalist position for the 2021 President’s IQP Award! We also talked with the IQP team whose project was about “Therapeutic Gardening.” These students worked in collaboration with the Healing Garden Institute, located here in Worcester. Their goal was to develop a new healing garden program and partnership strategy for the Healing Garden Institute that would benefit vulnerable populations in Worcester. Their work on this project won them the 2021 President’s IQP award!

In this episode we talk with John-Michael Davis, an Assistant Teaching Professor at WPI from the Department of Integrative and Global Studies. He discusses the electronic waste (E-waste) economy in Israel’s West Bank and how individuals within the communities that burn E-waste are affected. We also talk with a WPI student, Evelyn Dube, about her IQP project on WPI’s founders and their connections to slavery and anti-slavery.

This week we chat with Dr. Yunus Telliel and Dr. Laureen Elgert about their research in Public Interest Technology. Dr. Teliel works in the humanities and art department as a Professor of Anthropology and Rhetoric and Dr. Elgert is the department head of Integrative and Global Studies. We also talk to Dr. Yu Zhong, who joined WPI as an Associate Professor, about his research regarding Material Hydrogen and his work to design materials to improve hydrogen production. 

Join us this week as we talk to Eli Swai and Eric Beattie! Eli Swai is a Junior here at WPI studying Chemical Engineering in her undergraduate program and Business Management for her graduate degree. She is currently working on a project about conducting science outreach to primary schools in her home country of Tanzania. Eric Beattie is Vice President for Campus Planning and Facilities Management. In this podcast he gives our listeners the inside scoop on the new academic building on campus!

Dr. Soboyejo is a renowned material scientist and engineer. He currently serves as WPI’s Dean of Engineering and Provost. In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with the Provost on his story and the importance of global collaboration. We also interact with the new Dean of WPI’s Global School, Dr. Mimi Sheller, to discuss her background and passion for global initiatives.

Dr. Sarah Stanlick speaks on the Global Problem Seminar, a two-term course that immerses first-year students into university-level research and introduces them to the project-based curriculum at WPI offered by WPI. We also speak with Jack Baker on Mental Health initiatives at WPI and the Mental Health Rally that occurred at WPI.

Dr. Martín Burt, a world-renowned social entrepreneur who has developed various anti-poverty and educational social innovations that are currently being implemented in five continents; talks in his new book "Who Owns Poverty". Further, Raymond Magambo has built a mobile device application and web-based platform which allows bus passengers to book and purchase their bus tickets directly using their mobile money accounts called Ticketi Rafiki (friendly Ticket).

Talking with the President of WPI, Laure Leshin, and Dean Jean King on mindfulness. We also have included David Hinckley as he speaks on Pallyt, a new application that aims to solve the problems in building material procurement.

Hello Everyone! Our mission is to bring together the members of the WPI community and communicate their experiences, events, and Ideas.

In collaboration with the Global Lab and Tech News.