A Community Against Coronavirus
Scientists everywhere are going the extra mile to support each other – and our health services
In times of need, humanity shows its true colors. And in the fight against coronavirus, acts of kindness and generosity are making headlines the world over. As a reprieve from the frankly terrifying news stories that bombard us every day, we bring you a breath of fresh air...
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Chemists working at the University of York, UK, have donated all suitable supplies in their possession to local hospitals. Labs from all departments have joined the effort, and their generosity hasn’t gone unnoticed online.
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And York isn’t the only UK university going the extra mile. The Chemistry Department of Imperial College London have also donated all spare chemicals to produce hand sanitizing gel, as well as providing unused personal protective equipment to NHS Trust Hospitals.
See for yourself
Meanwhile, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (ITT Hyderabad) are developing hand sanitizer to protect their students and staff; technicians have created 50 liters at negligible cost in just two days.
Their post
Collaboration calling
Alan Jarmusch of UC San Diego has issued a call for collaboration between MS experts collecting data from biofluid and human tissue relating to coronaviruses. Any researcher can access the data sharing platform – do you have data to share?
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The WHO have launched a Global 2019-nCoV Clinical Data Platform, allowing Member States to contribute anonymized clinical trial data to inform public health responses, as well as publishing interim clinical care guidance for hospitalized patients and mildly ill patients isolating at home.
More info
An educational platform
Researchers are also taking to online platforms to communicate chemical education to the public. From simple lessons as to why soap is such an effective weapon against the virus to graphics demonstrating how viral testing works, the community is uniting to bring the public to our level, and to provide much-needed clarity in these uncertain times.
Want to stay up to date with research into understanding, testing and fighting COVID-19? Subscribe to “The COVID-19 Curator” – your 5-minute window into the science of the outbreak.
I've always wanted a job that fosters creativity - even when I worked on the assembly line in a fish factory. Outside work, I satisfy this need by writing questionable fiction. The venture into science writing was an unexpected departure from this fiction, but I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to combine my creative side with my scientific mind as Editor of The Analytical Scientist.
