MIX Maker Staff Teaming Up to Fight COVID-19
Written by Saron Mussie
Last March, George Mason University, along with other colleges and universities in Virginia, had shut down amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States followed by state-wide ‘stay-at-home’ order. While classes at Mason transitioned to a virtual platform, the MIX staff also made the switch of working and creating their own projects at home. Some of these projects are focused on helping COVID-19 frontline workers.
The MIX has recently teamed up with Marymount University professor Dr. Eric Bubar to 3D print face shield parts. While Dr. Bubar laser cut the shield, MIX Maker Staff Denys Kuratchenko mass-printed the other parts needed.
Denys is also a part of the MIX team that has partnered up with GMU Police and GMU Forensic Science Department for another project to help COVID-19 frontline workers. He, along with fellow MIX Makers Michael Zanella and Garrett Newcomb, is helping the GMU Police 3D print ear saver straps for the masks of the doctors and nurses working in hospitals and clinics by producing over 2,000 straps each week.
We are quite fortunate that our team’s efforts have been recognized and featured by The George as well as the Fairfax County Times:
https://www2.gmu.edu/news/584601
However, the fight is not over yet. There is still a nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment and we need all the help we can get to respond to this need. We are currently working to create fabric masks to provide for a local military hospital and are in need of experienced sewers who have access to a sewing machine. Please access this link if you are interested in helping: https://go.gmu.edu/covidmasks
The MIX team is delighted to be given the opportunity to collaborate with other departments in Mason to help protect the brave frontline workers fighting this pandemic.