Page 16 - Moving Forward 2020: Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering magazine

ASSESSMENT: Physicians at at the Milton S S S S S Hershey Medical Center try on on on on 3D-printed filtration mask prototypes Photo credit: Jason Plotkin
NO TIME TO LOSE
Engineers drive Penn State’s fast-moving COVID-19 alliance
by Erin Cassidy Hendrick
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 dedication of of a a 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 time of of dire need To that end 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 “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 Paul Morrow Professor in in in in Engineering Design and Manufacturing 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 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 16 IME NEWSLETTER • VOLUME 5 2020
“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 of Engineering Engineering “I’m extremely proud it it began in in in in in in the the the College of of Engineering Engineering and reflects the the the spirit I see every day in in in their work ” And their work continued into summer 2020
“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 MASC MASC case study that follows represents only a a a a a a a a a portion of of of its undertakings since March with hundreds of of of professors students and and staff members devoting personal time and 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 ” Faculty News