Strengthening Capacities of an Academic Network of Digital Fabrication Laboratories and the Role of International Collaboration in Times of COVID-19

Curioso W.H.; Coronel-Chucos L.G.; Cerrón-Salcedo J.D.; Lorenzo C. · CEUR Workshop Proceedings (2020)

Resumen

Technologies based on 3D printing are revolutionizing academia and public health. The objective of the article is to describe the activities of the Academic Network of Digital Fabrication Laboratories (Fab Lab) at Universidad Continental (Peru) in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. During period April-June 2020 more than 500 kits that included face shields were developed and distributed to public and private institutions nationwide. In addition, 3D-printed respirator valves for respirators were donated to public hospitals in Peru in order to keep COVID-19 patients who required oxygen alive. Moreover, Universidad Continental implemented seven multidisciplinary virtual learning courses on digital fabrication during the first semester of 2020. 91 students were trained on digital fabrication concepts and developed 13 research projects related to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the role of international academic collaborative networks to share resources and lessons learned is discussed during the COVID-19 crisis.

Instituciones: Universidad Continental