The creative concepts of five University of Wisconsin-Platteville faculty and one student were recently selected by WiSys in the organization’s Innovation Challenge: COVID-19. WiSys announced the contest in April, calling for fast, functional solutions to boost local community preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. From leveraging social media to designing medical devices, the UW-Platteville community responded with a range of innovative solutions.
WiSys offered $100 to those whose projects were selected in order to create a proof of concept or begin implementing the idea.
UW-Platteville recipients include:
- Dr. Mike Dalecki, professor of sociology: “Collaborative Facebook group to deal with pandemic issues”
- Dr. Arghya Das, assistant professor of computer science and software engineering: “Software to collect and analyze treatment datasets”
- Dr. Jodi Prosise, chair and professor of mechanical and industrial engineering: “System to mold personal protective equipment from recycled water bottles”
- Eric Russell, mechanical engineering major: “Intubation box to protect doctors and nurses”
The ideas of Dr. John Obielodan, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Dr. Xiaoguang Ma, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, were also selected but are being kept confidential to preserve intellectual property.
To read more about the selected concepts, visit www.wisys.org/events/innovation-challenge-covid19/innovation-challenge-ideas.
WiSys is an independent, nonprofit organization that advances scientific research throughout the UW System by assisting with grants, patents and licensing processes.