Currently, the Innovation Hub staff are exploring how their equipment, particularly laser cutters and 3D printers, can be used to potentially supplement the shortage of medical supplies needed by health care workers. After several working prototypes are created, they will be assessed to determine whether or not they meet certain medical standards.
Colleges
With facilities closed and performances halted, the arts community at the University has turned its attention to helping supply WVU Medicine with the products it needs while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carla Brigandi, assistant professor of gifted education, says most high-ability students who have take-home assignments from their schools will finish those quickly, with lots of time to spare for other activities.
A new accelerated online master’s degree program at the Reed College of Media will give students the strategy and skills to manage marketing communications across digital, social and other emerging media. The Master of Science in Digital Marketing Communications degree is a one-year, fully online program that addresses a growing talent gap in the industry.
The Innovation Hub, a prototyping center in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, has successfully created surgical mask extenders to be used by health care professionals. The Innovation Hub has made the directions for making the mask extenders publicly available.
Elizabeth Shorrock, visiting assistant professor of fashion, dress and merchandising in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, is leading an effort to make 10,000 face masks to be distributed to WVU Medicine, Charleston Area Medical Center and the United Way.