School of Science

HackRPI To Draw Hundreds This Weekend

On Saturday, November 9, hundreds will gather at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for HackRPI 2024. The 24-hour marathon of coding will begin at 11 a.m., when participants will team up to address the competition’s theme: Urban Upgrades. Participants will be asked to enhance the infrastructure, services, and quality of life in cities by developing new ideas and technologies. Examples are smart transportation systems, sustainable energy solutions, improved public safety, and inclusive community spaces. Prizes will be awarded during the closing ceremony around 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Rensselaer Geochemist Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Frank Spear, Ph.D., professor of earth and environmental sciences and Edward Hamilton Distinguished Educator Chair, is the 2024 recipient of the Walter H. Bucher Medal from the American Geophysical Union (AGU). The medal is presented annually to a “senior scientist in recognition of original contributions to the basic knowledge of crust and lithosphere.” It is considered a recognition of lifetime achievement.

RPI Lecturer Participates in Virtual NASA Training

Recently, RPI’s Richard Bonocora, Ph.D., senior lecturer in biological sciences, joined 29 other international participants for the Spaceflight Technology, Applications and Research (STAR) program. STAR is “a virtual NASA training for space biosciences.” The program, which will run until February, will give Bonocora an overview of the current topics in space biology, how to conduct an experiment in space and all of the unique considerations, and provide unique collaborative opportunities. He plans to share his new knowledge across campus with fellow faculty members as well as students. “I’m excited to gain knowledge through the STAR program that can help my students in many fields pursue these exciting opportunities,” said Bonocora.

Rensselaer Professor Selected as Fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Fengyan Li, Ph.D., professor of mathematical sciences, has been selected as a 2025 Fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM). AWM Fellows demonstrate a sustained commitment “to encourage women and girls to study and to have active careers in the mathematical sciences, and to promote equal opportunity and the equal treatment of women and girls in the mathematical sciences.”

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