Virtual Black Families Technology Awareness Day on Saturday, February 12

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will hold its annual Black Families Technology Awareness Day on Saturday, February 12. This year’s theme is “Change the World with STEM.” Open to K-12 students locally, domestically, and internationally, the free virtual program is designed to introduce talented underrepresented students, their families, and educators to educational and career opportunities in what are often referred to as the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — as well as the arts. 

Increase in Home Delivery Service Usage During COVID-19 Pandemic Unlikely to Last

In the first comprehensive study investigating the initial adoption and continuance intention of delivery services during a pandemic, Cara Wang, an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, found that over 90% of people who use online delivery services would likely revert back to their original way of shopping.

Rensselaer Scholars To Build and Test Prototype To Monitor Water Quality for Nitrogen

A grant from the National Science Foundation will allow Shayla Sawyer, a professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Rick Relyea, a professor of biological sciences at Rensselaer, to better understand the growing problem of harmful algal blooms (HABs).

Emily Liu Appointed Head of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Professor Emily Liu, a condensed matter physicist and nuclear engineer, has been named head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the oldest and one of the most renowned technological research universities in the nation. Dr. Liu is professor of nuclear engineering and engineering physics and brings extensive experience leading and managing multidisciplinary research, including collaborations with engineers, scientists, economists, and psychologists.

Machine Learning Tests Abilities of Rare-Earth Phosphates Given Atmospheric Extremes

Materials and mechanical scientists are using machine learning to rapidly vet combinations of elements that could be used in next-generation environmental barrier coatings needed to protect vehicles traveling in the extreme conditions of aerospace and space environments. The project, led by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is supported by the National Science Foundation.