News Releases

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No Wrong Turns: From Law to the Lab

By Rene Mai, Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering If you talk with me long enough to hear about my background, I’m sure you will have the same question everyone always does: why did you leave patent litigation to go to graduate school as an engineer? Most people do it the other way, leaving engineering for the lucrative world of patent law.

A group of people are participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony indoors. They hold a large ribbon with the initials "RPM" and red bows attached. Behind them, there is industrial machinery visible.

RPI Cuts Ribbon on Gene Haas Manufacturing Teaching & Learning Foundry

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) School of Engineering recently celebrated the official opening of the Gene Haas Manufacturing Teaching & Learning Foundry with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Pauline Oliveros standing outside in Venice with headphones and sunglasses on, in front of a laptop

Venice Biennale to Feature Late RPI Professor Pauline Oliveros

Former RPI professor and creator of RPI’s Center for Deep Listening Pauline Oliveros has been posthumously invited to be a part of the 2026 Venice Biennale, one of the world’s leading international exhibitions of contemporary art. Oliveros’ work will be presented in the main exhibition of The Biennale, as part of a curated selection that emphasizes intimacy and quieter artistic frequencies.

A group of individuals in lab coats work in a laboratory. One person pipettes liquid into an orange tray, while others focus on a microscope and notes. Various lab equipment and chemicals are visible on the counters. The environment is bright and organized.

Six RPI students awarded National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

Six RPI students have been awarded fellowships from the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). A highly prestigious and competitive award, the fellowship supports full-time graduate students with the potential to make significant contributions in STEM.

The image is a poster for the North American Conference on Video Game Music (NACVGM). It features a stylized red and black abstract design. Text includes event details: "May 1-2, EMPAC Theater: RPI." QR codes for the event program and registration are displayed at the bottom.

Gaming, Music, and Digital Culture Converge at RPI

A National Gathering Exploring the Sound of GamingRensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) will host the 13th North American Conference on Video Game Music (NACVGM) on May 1 and 2 at the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC). This conference, which will also be available virtually, brings together scholars from across the world to explore the latest research on the role of music and sound in video games. Research, Performance, and Play

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Starman Screening and Director Q&A at EMPAC April 29

Academy Award®-nominated director Robert Stone is coming to RPI’s campus for a special screening of his film Starman, followed by a live Q&A. The event is free and open to the public and will take place in the EMPAC Theater on April 29 at 4:30 p.m.

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The Engineers Who Reached for the Moon: How RPI Became a Launchpad to the Stars

When Reid Wiseman ‘97 strapped into the Orion spacecraft in April for humanity's first lunar voyage in more than half a century, he carried with him not just the hopes of a new generation of space explorers, but the legacy of the nation's oldest technical school — one that has quietly shaped America's journey to the cosmos.

A distant view of the NASA Artemis rocket on the launch pad, surrounded by four lightning towers. The scene is set across a body of water, with a backdrop of trees and a cloudy sky.

RPI Leaders Witness Historic Artemis II Launch

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) leaders were in Florida last week to witness the historic launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission, which includes RPI alumnus Reid Wiseman ’97 as its commander.

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Jefferson Project Expands Weather Monitoring at Chautauqua Lake with New York State Mesonet Partnership

The Jefferson Project at Chautauqua Lake is growing its environmental monitoring and modeling capabilities through a new partnership with the New York State Mesonet, bringing two advanced weather stations to Chatauqua Lake.

RPI Hosts Conference on Natural and Biobased Cosmetic Ingredients

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is hosting the Natural & Biobased Cosmetic Ingredients Conference April 7–9, 2026, at the university's Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) in Troy, N.Y. The three-day event draws cosmetic scientists, biotechnologists, and product developers from both industry and academia to discuss emerging research and commercial developments in sustainable cosmetic ingredients. 