MechE Connects

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Since the very early days of the pandemic, our faculty, students, and staff have been a driving force in developing solutions for the many complex problems caused by the virus.

- Evelyn Wang, Gail E. Kendall Professor and Department Head

MechE Connects is the bi-annual newsletter for MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE). Each issue explores one theme that reflects the cutting-edge research being conducted at MechE, in addition to providing an overview of the latest departmental news.

In this special issue of MechE Connects, we highlight just a few examples of how our faculty, students, staff, and alumni have used their minds, hands, and hearts to innovate, develop solutions, and support others in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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MechE Connects Video

Instructors in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering have introduced new innovative methods of teaching hands-on classes which may inform educational best practices for years to come.

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This Issue's Stories

Slowing the Spread

As Covid-19 cases increased worldwide, mechanical engineers at MIT developed solutions to help slow and stop the spread of the virus.

Deploying non-contact vitals sensing kiosks across campus

Graduate students Ivan Goryachev and Ryan Koeppen ’19 have been working on the development of a thermal trailer and subsequent kiosks that could be deployed on campus during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Delivering life-saving oxygen

Several groups in MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering have been developing technologies to help hospitals around the world provide life-saving oxygen to patients with Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Illustrating Covid-19 hygiene education

MechE alum Jasmine Florentine ’11, SM ’15 has illustrated a series of educational posters that clearly demonstrate health, hygiene, and safety best practices related to Covid-19.

Talking Shop: Assistant Professor Giovanni Traverso

As both a biomedical engineer and physician, Assistant Professor Giovanni Traverso has been leading a number of Covid-19 related projects including reusable masks, splitting ventilators and a vitals-sensing robot.

Hands-on education goes remote

Faculty and teaching staff in MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering developed creative solutions when transitioning hands-on classes from in-person to remote in Spring 2020.