Talk Title: “Pandemic Engineering: Accessible Tools for Lowering Risk and Spread of Infection”
Speaker: Richard Corsi, Dean of the College of Engineering, UC Davis
Abstract: COVID-19 is an airborne infectious disease. As such, far more attention should be paid to reducing the inhalation dose of virus-laden aerosol particles in both the near field (close contact) and far field (shared indoor air). This presentation will provide background on the infector-to=receptor pathway for transmission of COVID-19, and engineering approaches to disrupt transmission by reducing the inhaled dose of respiratory aerosols. Particular attention will be paid to the development of technologies that are more accessible to those without the resources needed to reduce infections in their own families, schools and general communities. The Corsi-Rosenthal box will be discussed as an example of a highly effective and relatively low-cost do-it-yourself air cleaner that is gaining popularity in North America and beyond.
Speaker Bio: Richard L. Corsi is dean of engineering at the University of California, Davis. He spent most of his career at the University of Texas as faculty member, department chair and endowed research chair in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, and as a member of the institution’s prestigious Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Corsi is an internationally recognized expert in the field of indoor air quality, with a specific interest in physical and chemical interactions between pollutants and indoor materials. During the pandemic, he has delivered numerous national webinars on layered risk reduction to reduce the spread of COVID-19, completed modeling to underscore scenarios of high risk, developed educational tools for school districts, and conceptualized a highly effective new air cleaner for respiratory aerosols that has become known as the Corsi-Rosenthal Box.
About the Series: CITRIS Research Exchange delivers fresh perspectives on information technology and society from distinguished academic, industry and civic leaders. Free and open to the public, these seminars feature leading voices on societal-scale research issues. Presentations take place on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. PT. Have an idea for a great talk? Please feel free to suggest potential speakers for our series.
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