Addressing Challenges Through Innovation
Stories of community action in the midst of adversity
We are living in times of great uncertainty. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many aspects of our lives, changing how we live and work. The pandemic has contributed to tormenting loss of life, significant impact on people’s health, and drastic economic distress. This adversity has led many to seek innovative solutions to aid humanity’s fight against these unprecedented conditions.
In this article, I will highlight some of the admirable work that I have learned about over the past weeks. This is by no means a comprehensive list of the silver lining that is spreading across the horizon — it is just a glimpse into the human instinct of compassion that we are seeing.
3D Printing: providing a lifeline to hospitals and front-line workers
Several 3D printing companies have been contributing to supporting the growing needs of replacement parts and equipment at hospitals. In Italy, the company “Isinnova” worked with hospitals to develop replacement parts for ventilators. Then, they started working on making valves to turn snorkeling masks into ventilators, supporting the growing need for healthcare equipment to save lives. In Saskatchewan, “Wave of the Future 3D” is making headbands to hold face shields and mold templates to vacuum seal masks. 3D printers in Quebec are also working on making personal protective equipment and medical pieces (such as valves) to support the needs of hospitals during the pandemic.
Hackathons: mobilizing the tech community to provide a helping hand
The tech community is also working on finding innovative tools and solutions to provide support during the pandemic. The World Health Organization has partnered with several tech companies, including Facebook and Microsoft, to hold a hackathon to develop technologies that tackle the problems associated with the pandemic. The COVID Global Hackathon website lists the focus areas and themes of the event, which include: health, vulnerable populations, community, businesses, education, and entertainment. A similar idea was initiated in Edmonton, where organizers are hosting a virtual hackathon “to build useful apps that people can use to manage and survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Sanitizing efforts: how local groups are helping meet the growing demand
A shortage in supplies, such as hand sanitizer, has led communities to provide support by making their own mix, following the World Health Organization’s recipe. In Edmonton, a pharmacist started manufacturing hand sanitizer, giving it out for free in his community. Scientists at the University of Alberta have started producing hand sanitizer as well, making 300 liters in 3 hours. Similarly, the University of Michigan’s pharmacy students are working on making the hand sanitizer in their labs,
By reflecting on these examples, one can see the power that innovative thinking and collective effort can have in times of adversity. We must stay resilient and adjust to what is happening around us, re-purposing our knowledge to fit whatever situation we experience. It is not easy, but it is only through our collective efforts that we will be able to overcome these challenging times.
