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Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has announced two new bachelor’s degree programs—the bachelor of science in marketing analytics and the bachelor of science in business analytics and applied AI—designed to equip students with the data-driven and AI-enabled decision-making skills increasingly sought across today’s competitive business landscape. These programs reflect WPI’s commitment to preparing graduates to lead in a world where analytics, automation, and digital strategy are redefining organizational success.  “Business sectors across the economy are experiencing rapid transformation driven by data, analytics, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence,” said WPI President Grace Wang. “These new degree programs exemplify WPI’s commitment to preparing our students for the future of work by equipping them with leading-edge business skills and fostering innovative, ethical, and analytical thinking.”  Demand for analytical and AI-savvy business professionals continues to surge. According to national employment projections, roles in market research, business analytics, and AI-supported strategic planning are among the fastest growing sectors, with organizations increasingly prioritizing workforce skills in data literacy, quantitative reasoning, and emerging technologies. From personalized marketing and customer analytics to AI-informed operations and predictive modeling, the need for graduates who can translate data into actionable insights is expanding across industries including retail, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and technology.  WPI’s two new undergraduate programs were developed in close collaboration with industry partners, faculty experts, and employers who emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary preparation that blends business foundations with analytics, computation, and communication.  The BS in marketing analytics focuses on teaching students how to leverage data to understand consumer behavior, optimize campaigns, measure brand performance, and guide strategic marketing decisions. The curriculum blends marketing fundamentals with statistical analysis, data visualization, and digital strategy, supported by hands-on projects that allow students to work directly with organizations on real marketing challenges.  The BS in business analytics and applied AI prepares students to apply artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics to solve complex operational and strategic business problems. Students gain experience with predictive modeling, data engineering, algorithmic decision-making, and AI-supported business solutions while also exploring issues of ethics, transparency, and responsible AI deployment.  “These programs were intentionally designed to meet the evolving needs of modern organizations,” said Kwame Dunbar, interim dean of The Business School. “Students will not only learn technical skills—they will develop the critical thinking, teamwork, and ethical grounding needed to apply analytics and AI responsibly in real business contexts. These degrees reflect what employers are asking for and what the future of business demands.”  Both degree programs are STEM designated—certifying that they qualify international students for extended U.S. work authorization through optional practical training (OPT)—and accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the global standard for international business education.    Through WPI’s project-based learning model, students in both programs will collaborate with industry sponsors to address authentic, high-impact business problems, gaining professional experience before graduation.  To learn more about these new undergraduate degree programs, visit:  Marketing analytics: https://www.wpi.edu/academics/study/bachelors-degree-marketing-analytics  Business analytics and applied AI: https://www.wpi.edu/academics/study/bachelors-degree-business-analytics-applied-ai 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has officially ignited its Goddard Centennial Celebration, initiating a series of public events that honor the 100th anniversary of Robert H. Goddard’s historic liquid-fueled rocket launch and the birth of the Space Age. The celebration lifted off March 4 with a public pop-up exhibit hosted by WPI’s Archives and Special Collections, drawing visitors to campus to experience original artifacts from Goddard’s time as a WPI student and faculty member. On display were papers from his years at WPI, his undergraduate thesis, photographs, his personal toolkit, and experimental rocket components that helped transform bold scientific theory into world-changing innovation. Additional pop-up exhibit dates are March 17 and 18, and the exhibit is free and open to the public. The exhibit complements a new digital experience curated by Archives and Special Collections, offering an interactive look at Goddard’s life, his pioneering research, and the essential role his wife, Esther C. (Kisk) Goddard, played in preserving his legacy. The online collection features 3D digitizations of experimental rocket parts and highlights from the Robert and Esther Goddard Collection, allowing visitors to explore the ingenuity that launched modern rocketry. WPI’s programming is part of a broader Central Massachusetts centennial celebration marking the anniversary of Goddard’s first successful liquid-fueled rocket launch in 1926—an achievement widely regarded as the dawn of the Space Age. Community partners across the region are hosting events throughout the year to honor Goddard’s life, scientific breakthroughs, and enduring impact on exploration and innovation. “Robert Goddard’s story is a powerful reminder that world-changing ideas can take root right here in Worcester,” said Grace Wang, president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. “At WPI, he found mentorship, hands-on experimentation, and the freedom to test bold ideas. That spirit remains at the heart of who we are. As we commemorate this centennial, we are not only celebrating a historic launch—we are reaffirming our commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators to reach even higher.” Charles Slatkin, founder and executive director of the Wonder Mission’s Goddard Project initiative, said the regional effort reflects the profound and lasting influence of Goddard’s work. “The first-launch centennial is a unique chance to celebrate and leverage the incredible legacy of the ‘Father of Modern Rocketry’ while simultaneously celebrating the remarkable contributions of our modern-day Goddards and inspiring tomorrow’s Goddards,” Slatkin said. “WPI’s leadership in this celebration underscores how deeply connected Goddard’s legacy is to the region’s identity and future.” The centennial events at WPI continue March 18 at 5:30 p.m. with “Launching the Next 100 Years: Industry, Innovation, and the Future of Space,” a public panel discussion featuring leaders from industry, research, and finance. The conversation will explore how public-private partnerships are expanding access to space; how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, are accelerating breakthroughs; and how advances beyond Earth are driving economic growth and workforce development here on Earth. The celebration will culminate April 19 at Mechanics Hall, where WPI’s 80-member Philharmonic Orchestra will premiere “To Fly Without Wings,” a newly commissioned work by composer Gregory W. Brown. Inspired by Goddard’s curiosity and determination, the piece musically traces the arc of discovery—from quiet experimentation to transformative ascent. The concert is free and open to the public. A WPI alumnus and physics instructor, Goddard conducted early experiments on campus that laid the foundation for modern rocketry. His legacy lives on through WPI’s project-based approach to STEM education and its ongoing research in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, robotics, artificial intelligence, and materials science. Through exhibits, expert dialogue, and artistic tribute, WPI invites the community to visit campus, explore Goddard’s story, and celebrate the innovation that launched from Worcester and continues to reach for the stars. For more information about upcoming events at WPI, click here.  Find a full list of centennial celebrations in Central Massachusetts here  

WPI researchers have used a form of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze anatomical changes in the brain and predict Alzheimer’s disease with nearly 93% accuracy.  Segmented and labeled images of a normal brain Their research, published in the journal Neuroscience, also revealed that the anatomical changes, involving loss of brain volume, differ by age and sex.  “Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be difficult because symptoms can be mistaken for normal aging,” says Benjamin Nephew, assistant research professor in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology. “We found that machine-learning technologies, however, can analyze large amounts of data from scans to identify subtle changes and accurately predict Alzheimer’s disease and related cognitive states. This advance has informed Alzheimer’s disease research and may lead to methods that could allow doctors to diagnose and treat the disease earlier and more effectively.” Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that impairs mental functions and ultimately leads to death. An estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Healthy brains contain billions of neurons, the cells that process and transmit signals needed for thought, movement, and other bodily functions. Alzheimer’s disease injures neurons, leading to cell death and loss of brain tissue and associated cognitive functions. Nephew, PhD student Senbao Lu, and Bhaavin Jogeshwar, MS ’24, conducted their research with MRI scans of brains from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, a multicenter project that built a library of brain scans from people age 69 to 84. The scans depict the brains of people with normal mental functioning, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease. Analyzing data-rich MRI images can require substantial computing power and time. To focus their investigation, the WPI researchers first used machine learning to analyze 815 MRI scans for volume measurements in 95 brain regions. Then they deployed an algorithm to make predictions based upon differences in the measurements between healthy individuals and those with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. Results showed that the method was 92.87% accurate in detecting Alzheimer’s disease among normal brains and brains of people with mild cognitive impairment.