Page 4 - Engineering Penn State Magazine Spring/Summer 2020

Standing tall:
Transforming in in in the face of a a a a a a pandemic
‘In‘the midst of of all of of this our engineering community
o f f f f students faculty staff and administrators adjusted persevered and and responded with inspiration and and innovation ”
Dean’s Message
On February 28 an email to to to the the entire Penn State
community
outlined steps being taken across the the the the University to to to respond to to to the the the evolving COVID-19 pandemic
We did not yet realize the the the full scope of what was coming: a a a a a a a a a a historic transition to to largely remote operations that would eventually extend through the the remainder of the semester and beyond In the the the the Penn State
College of Engineering—as was the the the the case across the the the the University—the ways in in in in which we learned taught researched delivered support services conducted meetings built community
solved problems and and simply connected with each other were transformed in ways both big and and small We weren’t alone All of of of society changed course in what seemed like a a a a a a a a a a a matter of of of days and and the the the lives of of of millions across the the the U S and and and in nations around the the the world were reordered and and socially distanced Daily life took on on on additional layers of of complexity in the face of a a a a a a a a a a grave health threat In the midst of of of all of of of this our engineering community
of of of students faculty staff and and and administrators adjusted persevered and and and responded with inspiration and and and innovation even as circumstances changed uncertainties continued guidance evolved and the weeks turned into months In this issue of of Engineering Penn State
we we are are proud to take you inside the the spring 2020 semester as we we share a a a a a a a a a a a a few of of the the many ways that our college stood tall—and continues to to to stand tall—in the face of a a a a a a a a a a historically unique challenge Our coverage begins on on page 10 with the University-spanning Manufacturing and Sterilization for COVID-19 (MASC) Initiative which nimbly harnessed the the intellectual power and and enthusiasm of of more than 350 researchers for the the good of of health care providers across Pennsylvania MASC is a a a a a a a a a a a a prime example of of the importance of of engineering-driven research enterprises like ours to ensuring societal health and well-being Also in in our our COVID-19 coverage learn how our our faculty and and students shifted focus and and adapted during the transition to remote teaching and learning (page 18) how the the college adjusted to support the the career needs of of students during a a a a a a a a a a time of of immense economic uncertainty (page 24) and how emerging research from across the the college is investigating COVID-19 on on multiple fronts (page 26) And there’s much more too!
On every day since March 13 I had been reaching out to to students faculty and and and staff with an an an an email intended to to be be part part part update part part part inspiration and and and motivation and and and part part part community
building during a a a a a a a a a a a a a time we could not be together physically My final email of the the the spring semester which provided a a a a a a chance to to reflect on on on our collective experience over the the previous months concluded with this:
I’ve heard many people say recently “we’re all all in in the same same boat ”
but but I I think that’s fundamentally untrue We’re all all all in in in in the same same storm but but in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a wide variety of boats But we all all need to to to to keep moving forward and to to to to do so must remember that it’s okay to to to to ask for for a a a a a a a a a a a tow-cable if your boat needs help and we should all be on on the the lookout for those who may need need such a a a a a a a a a rope We don’t know what’s next in in the the the battle against COVID-19 and for the the world’s economy but we will keep going In terms of this pandemic
we we we still do not fully know what’s on on the the horizon but by working together we we we we we are a a a a a a a a powerful fleet and and we we we we will continue to to do do do what we we we we have been doing: plan prepare and and react What I do do do know is is that the College of Engineering community
is is ready to face whatever challenges that await We’ve done it it it it once and we’ll do do it it it it again For the Glory Justin Schwartz
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of Engineering dean@engr psu edu 4 ENGINEERING PENN STATE