WORCESTER, Mass. — Briana Rawson of Fairfield, a junior majoring in biology at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, recently completed an intense, hands-on research project in Melbourne, Australia. The project was titled “Examining Parents’ Responses to CSIRO Holiday Science Activities.”

At WPI, 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 26 off-campus project centers, located around the world. 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.