Center for Advanced Research in Drying

Labor Day isn’t just the unofficial end of summer, it’s also a celebration of workers’ rights and the progress made by those who stood up for better pay, safer workplaces, and dignity on the job.

Today, we honor their hard work and the contributions of every worker, especially our CARD family of faculty, students, members and researchers.

On August 19, 2025 the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) CARD team, consisting of Professor Yuxiang Liu (Shawn) and CARD graduate and undergraduate students, visited Ocean Spray’s Middleboro, MA manufacturing plant and headquarters in Lakeville, MA. These visits benefit the education and research of the students, as they receive a first-hand look at commercial drying operations.

During this visit, the team walked through Ocean Spray Cranberries’ operations for sweetened dried (SDCs) and discussed other technical topics, including novel , process control, and process monitoring.

The CARD team was hosted by Ryan Moriarty, Director of Engineering, Product Development and Culinary Science, as well as Michael DiMarzio, Sr. Manager Process Engineering and the process engineering team.

Did you know that Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day? It was formalized by a "Memorial Day Order" issued by the Grand Army of the Republic Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan in 1868.

It is now a federal holiday held the last Monday in May, and is the nation's foremost annual day to mourn and honor its deceased service men and women.

Please join us in remembering them.

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO, Emily Reichert, announced the launch of Massachusetts’ Climatetech Economic Development Plan at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Sagamore Labs. The plan is a comprehensive roadmap to solidify Massachusetts as the global leader in innovation, drive equitable economic growth, and advance the state’s net-zero climate goals. The plan emphasizes Massachusetts’ unique position as #1 in the U.S. startups per capita and the second-largest climatetech ecosystem in the country, with a proven track record of innovation and commercialization of breakthrough technologies.

PHOTO INFO: The photo was taken at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) at the Center for Advanced Research in Drying (CARD) Smart Dryer Lab located at 15 Sagamore Road, Worcester, MA.

Featured are left to right: Bogdan Vernescu (Vice President and Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, WPI), Melissa Hoffer (Massachusetts Climate Chief), Hanshen Yu (WPI PhD student), Jamal Yagoobi (CARD Director), Robyn Kennedy (Massachusetts State Senator), and Zahra Nazariharavani (WPI PhD student).

Click here to find the links to the articles in the The Boston Globe Business and Renewable Energy Magazine.

https://www.dryingresearch.org/2025/02/26/mass-climatetech-economic-development-plan-launched-at-wpi/