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Engineering in Action virtual speaker series kicks off August 28

August 21, 2020 - by Kim Delker

the image of the engineering in action flier featuring Christina Salas

A new virtual speaker series hosted by the School of Engineering debuts this month with a presentation about UNM’s 3D mask-making operation for COVID-19.

“Engineering in Action: How our innovation is impacting our community” will be held at 3 p.m. August 28 on Zoom.

Salas, an associate professor of the Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation at UNM and special assistant to the dean of the School of Engineering for Health Sciences Center relations, led the effort to produce thousands of masks and shields for frontline workers around the state, including in some of the hardest-hit areas like Navajo Nation. At its peak, the 24/7 operation was producing 500 masks a week.

Salas will discuss how she organized 3D mask making for a pandemic.

Salas, along with Laura Kief Shaffer, a flight nurse who has been instrumental in the effort to manufacture prepare the masks for distribution, were selected by InStyle magazine for the “Badass 50: Healthcare Workers Who are Saving the Day” in the August 2020 issue.

Future “Engineering in Action” events planned this semester will include a focus on drone projects in the school and on artificial intelligence technology and research.

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