48440 research outputs found
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Reflections on the Nonlinear Progression of Science and Life and with Implications for Science Education
No full textProgress in areas such as academia, scientific fields, and personal development tends to be nonlinear, and we typically do a disservice trying to view progress exclusively in a linear way. A logical progression of cause followed by effect is the easiest way to view and teach these things, in part because all communication is linear—but that’s not how our brains or reality work, and a lot of communication issues and anxiety arise because of that. Through historical scientific examples and the author’s own experiences—including in the creation of this IQP—nonlinearity is shown in a new, kinder light to be not a mistake or a thing to avoid, but rather, a thing to accept and embrace in all areas as a necessary step toward success. Viewing nonlinearity as a helper rather than a hindrance can help achieve understanding, acceptance of reality, and peace of mind, both as scientists and as people
A System Dynamics Approach to Rethinking Clinical Trials
No full textInspired by flight simulators, LindSim 1 serves as a socio-technical-economic simulator, allowing users to navigate complex trial management challenges. Our research focuses on analyzing psychological, cultural, and financial factors influencing clinical trial participation, leveraging AI for data extraction, summarization, and feedback loop generation. Utilizing AI- driven techniques, we successfully identified psychological factors impacting the simulator, primarily in the underrepresented patient population, and created causal loop diagrams from text. These findings will enrich LindSim 1, ultimately improving clinical trial efficiency and decision- making
Designing a Robotics Curriculum for New England Sci-Tech
No full textFrom February to March 2025, our group conducted a student teaching practicum at New England Sci-Tech (NEST) through Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) program. We developed and taught a robotics course using the mBot Ranger platform, targeting students below high school age. The primary objective was to examine whether early exposure to STEM-based learning increases a student’s likelihood of sustained interest in STEM subjects. In addition, we evaluated the effectiveness of consumer-available STEM curricula by assessing whether existing materials sufficiently support meaningful STEM education, or if supplemental or revised instructional content is necessary to enhance student comprehension and engagement
Text-to-3D AI Modeling: Performance Analysis of Five Major Methods of Generative 3D Modeling with LLMs
No full textText-to-3D AI modeling lets anyone create three-dimensional objects simply by typing a description in plain English (natural-language prompts). In this study, we compare five major approaches — Score Distillation Sampling (an iterative method that uses a 2D image denoising model to “sculpt” 3D shapes), Feed-Forward Generation (one-shot networks that directly output 3D meshes), CLIP-Guided Optimization (which refines 3D results using a vision–language model called CLIP), NeRF-Based Methods (using Neural Radiance Fields, a continuous function that encodes volume and color in space), and Voxel & Point-Cloud Pipelines (building shapes from 3D grids or scattered point sets) — by running ten pre-trained models on an NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti graphics card. We measured how long each model takes to run (inference time), how much graphics memory (GPU memory) it uses, and how good the outputs look (visual quality) using a simple five-criteria rubric. Our results fall into three clear groups — very fast/low-memory but coarse, mid-range with balanced detail, and slow/high-fidelity — and guide when to choose each: VPP or Shap-E for quick drafts, GET3D or ClipFace for a balance of speed and quality, and DreamGaussian or Fantasia3D when top-notch detail matters. This practical framework helps students and developers pick the right text-to-3D tool for their project needs
Multimodal Neuroimaging (fMRI and fNIRS) at WPI
No full textThe use of fNIRS in neuroimaging is increasing due to its portability, safety, and affordability. However, its vulnerability to interference from hair introduces the risk that fNIRS studies will become biased against populations with thick, curly, or coily/kinky hair. This study evaluated an expanded hair manipulation protocol for improving fNIRS data quality on subjects with diverse hair types under clinical time constraints. The protocol, limited to 20 minutes, alternated calibration with targeted manipulation and significantly improved calibration values across cycles. LED optodes outperformed lasers in both calibration time and connection quality. While effective across most hair types and colors, further validation is needed for coily hair
A Model for Stock Prices
No full textFor several years, firms on Wall Street have used their own technology to gain a great advantage over the average investor in the stock investment game. The goal of this project is to construct a model that can best predict the trends of big companies’ stocks to level the playing field for the average investor. For the models, we used up to a maximum of one year to project the future trends for a variety of big-name American companies
Digitalizing Life Skills Training Programs for MSR
No full textUnemployment in Namibia is a significant challenge impacting 36.9% of its population. Non-profit organizations are addressing this issue by providing life skills and vocational training to empower citizens with the ability to obtain jobs. With this, broader outreach is still needed. This study explores effective educational methods for professional skills development and introduces a digital learning platform tailored to unemployed Namibians. Various strategies were engaged to collect data on preferred learning methods and digital tools, ensuring that the development of this training platform aligns with the specific needs of this demographic
Explore Waishuangxi: Multiculturalism, Interconnectedness, & Third Places
No full textThe Waishuangxi, a river in Taipei’s Shilin District, is replete with vibrant culture, history, and nature. However, rapid urbanization threatens older buildings and natural landscapes, leading to conflict between traditional and modern cultures. Working with Soochow University, we created an interactive storyboard map that helps revitalize the Waishuangxi watershed area for locals and tourists to appreciate Shilin’s unique cultures and environment. Through multimethod research involving archival research, river walks, and interviews with locals and experts, we identified three themes: multiculturalism, interconnectedness, and third places. These themes developed into our website’s story: Shilin’s culture and history was not just shaped by—but also embedded within—the Waishuangxi
Next Steps for the Water Resource Outreach Center
No full textFormed in 2015, Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Water Resource Outreach Center (WROC) exposes students to the complex relationship between laws, environmental agencies, and communities. The goal of this project was to evaluate and enhance the WROC programs' impact on students, outreach to communities, and accessibility of WROC project work. We interviewed 15 water resource experts, surveyed 22 WROC alumni, and analyzed 34 publication sites, and 3 web design platforms. Using this data, our group developed a guide for impactful immersions and a new website to optimize WROC engagement and integration with the Open Educational Resource platform QUBES
Gen AI-Led Education for Sustainable Development Curriculum Review Tool
No full textUnder the sponsorship of The Open University and University of Worcester the research team designed a Gen AI tool (Earthovia) to audit curricular alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 UN SDGs seek to address climate change and sustainable economic growth. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the local academic stakeholders to obtain feedback on the tool for its value and future improvement, how SDGs can be successfully integrated into HEI curriculum, and the ethical importance of integrating a human-hybrid model into society