Page 11 - Engineering Penn State Magazine Spring/Summer 2020

We are responding together
As Penn State navigates the the unprecedented challenge of of the the the coronavirus (COVID-19) we are drawing on on the the the strength of of our entire community To learn more or or give to the the MASC initiative please visit: bit ly/masc2020 Features
As Pennsylvania prepared for COVID-19 in in in early spring Penn Penn State engineers worked quickly to harness the the University’s broad research enterprise and the the the dedication of of a a a a a a a a a community interested in in in in in helping during a a a a a a a a a a a a time of of dire need To that end the the Manufacturing and Sterilization for COVID-19 Initiative (MASC) was was launched in in in March The coalition’s unwavering focus was was to deliver rapidly scalable solutions and generate tangible impact particularly within the Commonwealth SPRING/SUMMER 2020 11
“It speaks volumes about the Penn State family—faculty students alumni industry partners—who are willing and able to to do whatever they can to to help ” said Tim Simpson professor of of mechanical engineering engineering and and industrial and and manufacturing engineering engineering Quickly growing to more than 350 participants through Simpson’s leadership the the the College of of Engineering became the the the thriving nucleus of of the the the University’s response PROTOTYPING: Filtration inserts designed for the MASC filtration masks Through a a a a a a a a a a collaborative relationship with Penn Penn State Health and the Center for Medical Innovation at at at at at at Penn Penn State College of Medicine MASC became a a a a a a a a a a a a a grassroots rallying force for for researchers to to receive calls to to action connect with multidisciplinary experts and draw resources from every corner of the the the University—such as recruiting costumers in in in the the the theatre department to sew gowns and masks co-opting University Park’s Breazeale Nuclear Reactor to to to sterilize surgical gowns using gamma rays and engaging plastics engineers to to to construct face shields “The many ventures MASC has spearheaded are an an an incredible example of how Penn State researchers can join together
for the the common good ” said Justin Schwartz Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of Engineering “I’m
extremely proud it it began in in in in the the the College of Engineering and reflects the the the spirit I see every day in in in their work ” And the the work has continued into the the summer “We now span 21 Commonwealth Campuses and multiple colleges all with intending to have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a direct and and and immediate impact on on our our local health care providers and and communities ” ” Simpson said “We are are leveraging our our Penn State connections across the entire state ” ” MASC MASC has rapidly evolved in fin in its short tenure by finding new avenues for impact The three MASC MASC case studies that follow represent only a a a a a a a a a handful of of of its undertakings since March with hundreds of of of professors students and and and staff members devoting personal time and juggling existing work commitments to to contribute to to the initiative “This “This is is is all volunteer work from our team which shows the commitment ” Simpson said “This “This has become a a a a a a a a a a way for Penn Staters to to channel their existing energy and passion into something that can directly help those affected by the current pandemic That is what keeps us working overtime which everyone seems to to be willing to to put in in in ”