by Sofia Eisenberg
9th grade at Richard Montgomery High School (Bethesda, MD)
Honorable mention
Since it was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December of 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused catastrophic suffering, including the appalling loss of life of millions worldwide. As the world was forced to lock down to reduce infection rates, countless scientists, frontline workers, and engineers contributed beyond measure in the development of mitigation efforts. Engineers are essential in COVID-19 response measures and aid, not only through creating new technologies to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, but also in helping to enhance the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as in making advances in telecommunications that now allow everyone to stay connected while being safe.
The technological advancements made by engineers in an effort to contain the virus, including innovative methods for sanitizing facilities, biotechnology, and telemedicine robots, have been vital in stopping the spread. Moreover, these advancements were born from collaboration across specialties, universities, and even countries. For example, engineers at the ARCI, a government institution in India, collaborated with those at University of Hyderabad, a public university, and Mekins Industries, a private corporation, to develop an ‘Ultraviolet C Disinfection Trolley,’ a cart with an array of UVC tubes that can effectively sanitize, eliminating need for ‘harsh chemicals.’
Another excellent example of this is professor of Engineering at Princeton, Howard Stone’s research with Manouk Abkarian, a researcher at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in France. Together, they worked to study how droplets containing the virus spread by talking and breathing, advocating for the use of ‘lip balm’ to potentially mitigate some spread of the virus. Meanwhile, researchers from the University of Central Florida are working to create a cough drop to thicken saliva, preventing droplets from spreading too far, and possibly even cutting social distancing requirements in thirds. The above examples show the importance of collaboration and teamwork in innovation.
Professors at Chulalongkorn University made technological advancements by creatively repurposing previously created technology for the purposes of the pandemic. Telemedicine robots, created originally for the purpose of caring for those recovering from strokes and the elderly, are now being produced by Haxter Robotics to allow doctors to safely treat COVID-19 patients. These robots, initially intended to be taken home with the patient, ended up getting reused to prevent the spread of disease. In fact, similar constructs are being used across the world— just one example is halfway across the Earth, in Maryland, where doctors with high risk can connect to robots that allow them to treat patients virtually. The engineers’ inventive remaking of technology highlights the benefits of creative thinking while problem solving.
In addition, engineers have also been using technology to increase the distribution of PPE, using their skills to help their community, and even right injustice. An example of this is Mark Fuller, who realized that in his hometown, the prices of masks were skyrocketing, leaving many unable to afford them. In response, created a mask design using engineering, making a low-cost, effective mask, then publishing it on his Facebook page for free. It is now being used across the world, including several countries’ military, and volunteer corps in Pakistan.
Also, engineers built the infrastructure that supports online telecommunications platforms like Zoom, internet essentials like broadband, as well as cables that cross over the world giving access to the web. Without these systems in place, we would never have been able to stay so connected while being safe during the pandemic. Face calls have let families stay in touch, provide social interaction, as well as letting children attend school online and adults to work virtually.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been disastrous for the world, although the role that engineers have played, in addition to that of other scientists, frontline workers, and innovators, have been helping society recover. In this dark situation, engineers have banded together, to collaborate with each other, to innovatively repurpose older technology, and even to rectify some injustice. The immediate, determined responses to this pandemic from engineers and others shines light on a path to recovery, providing hope for a better tomorrow as well as showing how, in the darkest of situations, the brightest of humanity will shine through.
These winning entries in the 2021 EngineerGirl Writing Contest all salute engineering’s role in meeting and defeating the challenges presented by COVID-19.