B-Note May 28, 2020
May 28, 2020
Greetings, fellow Tigers!
Throughout Clemson’s history, Tigers have always been there for each other when hard times hit. More than ever, our Clemson Family needs your help. Clemson is committed to assisting Tigers through the social, scientific, economic and professional challenges that we face. When you make a gift this year, we can provide the means to move through this time with resilience. Because we weren’t able to have our Give Day in April, we are Calling All Tigers to make a gift before our fiscal year ends. Your gift will help us support the University’s most immediate needs and assist students, faculty and staff during times of economic hardship. Click here to make a gift that will support our fellow Tigers. Also plan to join me at 9 a.m. on June 3 when I speak with the Clemson University Alumni Association on Facebook Live to share the importance of the Calling All Tigers initiative and how it will impact Clemson’s future.
Last week President Clements announced the University’s phased plan for a safe return to campus. Clemson’s leadership is committed to a plan to return the campus to full operation in the fall that is centered around taking all the steps necessary to keep our faculty, staff and students healthy, and make them feel comfortable about returning. As the University continues to share additional information, I will share it with all of you. You can read President Clements’ full statement here.
A student-led group in Clemson’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences is designing and building prototypes of a “negative pressure” device that would fit over COVID-19 patients’ heads and keep them from infecting the healthcare providers who take care of them. If they sneeze or cough, the device would keep the novel coronavirus from spreading to others in the room, researchers said. Diego Nigoa, a senior who graduated this month, is working on the project with fellow bioengineering students Amanda LeMatty and Robert Falconer, as well as Delphine Dean, the Ron and Jane Lindsay Family Innovation Professor, and John DesJardins, the Robert B. and Susan B. Hambright Leadership Professor. Together they are building the device with fans, air filters, PVC pipe and plastic sheeting that you can get from the hardware store for less than $100. Air inside the device is passed through the filter to prevent the virus from escaping into the room. For the group, the idea is to design a device that can be built inexpensively with readily available parts so that it can be quickly replicated at hospitals around the world. The group has made seven prototypes, some for as little as $15, and is working with doctors from Prisma Health to refine the designs. This project underscores how students and faculty are turning the pandemic into an opportunity to conduct unique research and stay connected to the University while campus is closed to promote social distancing. You can read more here.
Three College of Science undergraduates are recipients of the 2020 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, the premier and highly competitive national award for students who have the potential to advance research in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering. The selection of physics junior Paul Marston Copeland, biological sciences junior Shaoni Dasgupta, and mathematics sophomore Carson Wood brings Clemson’s total number of Goldwater Scholars to 50. This marked the second year in a row that the College of Science produced three recipients. In all, 396 students nationwide received scholarships this year. They were selected from a pool of more than 5,000 candidates, which resulted in 1,350 nominations from 461 schools. Each university could only nominate up to four students. You can read more about Clemson’s recipients here.
Clemson’s College of Science recipients of the 2020 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships (left to right): Physics junior Paul Marston Copeland; Biological sciences junior Shaoni Dasgupta; Mathematics sophomore Carson Wood
Clemson University faculty and staff in coordination with the United Way and Ten at the Top have created an interactive map that provides information on different food resources across the Upstate for individuals and families facing food insecurity. Clemson’s College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences created the Food Access Map as part of its efforts to aid Upstate residents facing hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. The map includes nearly 400 providers across 10 counties complete with information on the type of assistance they provide as well as operating hours and availability. You can read more here.
B- moving toward the future!
Mark your calendars beginning on June 3, and please consider making a gift of any amount you are comfortable with in these unusual times. No matter how much, your generosity makes a difference. Together, we can move through this time with unity and strength.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to moving Clemson toward the future!
Go Tigers!
Brian O’Rourke