Looking for a way to make your day less stressful and more mindful...take some much-needed time for yourself and join us for Mindful Thursdays! Drop-in meditation sessions are open to the entire WPI community, and no experience is necessary. A certified meditation teacher will offer guided meditations appropriate for both beginners as well as experienced meditators. People can join in person or via zoom. Mindful Thursdays: 2:15PM to 2:35PM Center for Well-Being, Daniels Hall 102E Zoom: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/186050714 Each Friday an email will be sent out to the group called Mindfulness Tools To-Go which will include information about meditations, poems shared during the week, and mindful resources. If you have questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact Robin Benoit, rbenoit@wpi.edu

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion with John Sanbonmatsu, WPI Professor of Philosophy, as he explores his 2025 book The Omnivore���s Deception: What we get wrong about meat, animals, and ourselves (NYU Press). Prof. Sanbonmatsu proposes a new perspective on our relationship with animals, the food we eat, and with each other. His book has received warm praise from leading thinkers and activists including Angela Davis, writing: “Everyone who believes in justice for all should read this brilliant book,” and Jeffrey Moussaief Masson, who writes: “You cannot read this book without changing your life. It is a work not only of immense moral significance, but a masterpiece." Prof. Sanbonmatsu will open the program, the second event in this year's Gordon Library WPI Author Series, "For a Change." He will be joined in conversation by Prof. Joel Brattin and Prof. Scott Barton, followed by an open Q&A with the audience. Copies of The Omnivore’s Deception will be available for sale for half an hour before the event begins (3-3:30pm, All major credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Amex) or Google/Apple/Samsung Pay will be accepted).

Welcome to the Worcester Inter-University Innovation Exchange (WIIX)The WIIX Evening Event is a dynamic, fast-paced gathering designed to bring together students from Worcester’s universities to network and share innovative ideas. This event emphasizes connections, rapid pitches, and meaningful conversations, fostering cross-campus innovation in an engaging and energetic setting.

Theatre Fall production-The Importance of Being EarnestBy Oscar WildeDirected by Dr. Kate MoncriefWPI Little Theatre (in Riley Hall)Thurs, Nov 20 at 7:30pmFri, Nov 21 at 7:30pm (with a talk-back after the performance)Sat, Nov 22 at 2pm Tickets will be available here (starting in late Oct / early Nov):

Title:The User Experience System (UXS): Integrating Systems Engineering and Systems Thinking to Define, Operationalize, and Empirically Test Its Correlation with Commercial Success Abstract:Despite decades of research into new product development, between 35% and 45% of new products still fail commercially, underscoring a persistent gap in understanding the systemic drivers of success. While prior studies attribute failures to factors such as weak positioning, poor timing, or inadequate investment, these explanations do not account for high-profile cases where technically sound, well-marketed products nevertheless failed.This research introduces the concept of a User Experience System (UXS): a lifecycle-oriented, system-of-systems framework that strategically integrates non-functional requirements (e.g., reliability, maintainability, usability) to optimize end-user outcomes. Although scholars have implied the importance of systemic experience, they have not defined a UXS, nor has any empirical study tested whether UXS integration predicts commercial success.The primary aim of this research was to determine whether a statistically significant correlation exists between the degree to which a product, system, or service is designed from a UXS perspective and its commercial success. Confirming such a relationship would provide actionable guidance for development teams, with implications for profitability, market resilience, and end-user satisfaction.This work contributes to the body of knowledge by:1. Defining and operationalizing the UXS construct.2. Empirically demonstrating its correlation with commercial success.By bridging systems engineering, systems thinking, and human-centered design, this research offers a new lens for both scholars and practitioners, advancing the theory and practice of product development while addressing a critical gap in the literature. Advisors:Prof. Donald S. GeloshCo-Advisor, Systems Engineering Program, WPIProf. Jamie P. MonatCo-Advisor, Systems Engineering Program, WPI Committee Members:Prof. Shams BhadaSystems Engineering Program, WPIProf. Marcos EstermanISE Department, RIT

Join ODIME on Fridays from 12:00-2:00pm ET in OASIS House for milk and freshly baked cookies! For more information or accommodations, please contact ODIME at diversity@wpi.edu. All are welcome!