Evan King of Mercer Island, a member of the class of 2018 majoring in computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), was a member of a student team that recently completed an intense, hands-on research project in Washington, D.C.. The project was titled “Analyzing the Current Market of Hull Cleaning Robots.”

In their project outline, the students wrote, “This project is intended to provide a market assessment of the emerging industry of hull cleaning robots to help the United States Coast Guard with their mission of reducing the spread of non-indigenous marine species.”

At WPI, all undergraduates are required to complete a research-driven, professional-level project that applies science and technology to addresses an important societal need or issue. About two-thirds of students complete a project at one of the university’s more than 40 off-campus project centers, which are located around the world. A signature element of the innovative undergraduate experience at WPI, the project-based curriculum offers students the opportunity to apply their scientific and technical knowledge to develop thoughtful solutions to real problems that affect the quality of people’s lives-and make a difference before they graduate.

“The WPI project-based curriculum brings students out of the classroom and their comfort zones and into the global community to apply their knowledge to solve real problems,” said Professor Kent Rissmiller, interim dean of WPI’s Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division. “Students are immersed in a new setting, solving open-ended problems and working with people of different backgrounds-all valuable perspectives for surviving and thriving in today’s global marketplace. They also learn the meaning and magic of teamwork; make a real and meaningful difference in their host community; and gain a competitive edge for any resume, or graduate or professional school application.”