One of the most interesting challenges in scenic design isn’t just how a set looks, it’s how it moves. For this multiweek project, Casey Duncan ’26 set out to answer a deceptively simple question: with limited stage space and very few crew members, how can we keep our scenes visually engaging without breaking the flow of the performance? In live theater, transitions can make or break audience immersion. Long pauses, noisy set changes, or visible Read more…
This semester’s RSEi directors and society meeting brought together alumni officers, current directors, and society members for a full day of discussion, reflection, and collaboration. The event created a structured space for cross-generational engagement and helped align the organization on goals for the remainder of the academic year. The day began with a dedicated session for alumni officers to reconnect and share insights from their experiences since graduating. This space allowed them to reflect on Read more…
RPI, with help of RSEi, hosted a successful and energetic Change the World Innovation Weekend on March 14–15, bringing together approximately 170 students for a fast-paced, first-of-its-kind innovation challenge through the Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship. Over the course of just 30 hours, student teams researched problems, developed concepts, and pitched their ideas to judges. Entries were evaluated on criteria including feasibility, global impact, marketing, and overall presentation, challenging students to balance creativity with real-world Read more…
If you’ve been away from campus for a while, you might be wondering what everyday life is like at the RSEi House these days. While classes, research, and part time jobs keep everyone busy, it’s the rhythm of daily life inside the house that really makes it special. Meals with Our Very Own Chef One of the absolute highlights of life at the clubhouse is the food. We’re incredibly lucky to have our very own Read more…
If you’ve been missing winter in upstate New York, this past January delivered the kind of storm that probably brings back memories- whether fond or frostbitten. On January 25-26, 2026, a major blizzard swept through Troy, New York, burying streets, cars, and sidewalks under heavy snow and bringing campus life to a temporary standstill. By early morning on the 26th, it was clear this wasn’t just another snow day. Cars parked along city streets were Read more…
This fall, RSEi welcomed a new group of members who share one major reason for joining: the community. Again and again, Fall ’26 members pointed to RSEi’s strong, supportive environment. They were drawn to the close member connections, the shared living experience, and the built-in support network. Many said they wanted to join a strong community of like-minded, driven, and creative peers-people who understand the demands of engineering and push each other to grow. Professional Read more…
This September, four student members of our organization flew out to Black Rock Desert in Nevada to attend ‘BALLS 33’, the largest experimental rocket launch worldwide. Trey Penman, John Cornachia, Sawyer Shaw, and Gray Chen, members of the solid rocket propellant known as the Ascendant Research Group, kicked off their 2025-2026 series of motor test campaigns with some personal rocketry projects. The research team brought a total of four projects to fly in Nevada. Two notable Read more…
Since its inception, RSEi has marked its professional presence on campus through career-related events, a large number of these being the speaker events. Every semester, our students coordinate three to four talks given by esteemed alumni or industry professionals who are well-established in our fields. By the end of the fall semester, we have hosted four presentations featuring CEO of Aireon Don Thoma ‘83, Three Star Lieutenant General Scott Rice ‘80, Jackie Balcerak from the Read more…
On December 6th, the Rensselaer Society of Engineers (RSEi) hosted its annual Winter Social, welcoming RPI professors, staff, and students to the house for an evening centered on connection, reflection, and community. The event provided an opportunity to step away from the structure of classrooms and offices and instead engage in meaningful conversation in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Guests were treated to a seasonal spread that included charcuterie boards, roasted turkey, potato skins, and a Read more…
Over the past month and a half, the Rensselaer Society of Engineering Innovation (RSEi) has been thrilled to open its doors to welcome new students through a series of recruitment and professional development events. We kicked off the semester with Burgers and Board Games, a crowd favorite that set a new record for attendance. The event offered prospective members a chance to meet RSEi brothers in a relaxed setting, complete with homemade burgers, fries, and Read more…