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Global Maker Community Bands Together to Assist with Pandemic

Creators and innovators throughout the world provide critical supplies and DIY solutions.

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From hobbyists to big companies, people are providing innovative solutions to address the shortage of medical supplies via DIY hacks to using personal 3D printers, like Boston-area high school teacher Bennett Ahearn, to make masks. (Image courtesy of Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images.)

From hobbyists to big companies, people are providing innovative solutions to address the shortage of medical supplies via DIY hacks to using personal 3D printers, like Boston-area high school teacher Bennett Ahearn, to make masks. (Image courtesy of Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images.)

While many businesses have shuttered their doors and people are creating a new normal, since COVID-19 started its global spread, the outreach of innovative solutions to battle the pandemic has only grown. From distillers switching to hand sanitizer production to industrial leaders and hobbyists creating face shields, the global maker community continues to rally the troops.

At the heart of this response is a communication network that has led to quick turnarounds for dire situations. Innovation and educational networks like Maker Faire have been integral in providing inspiration and helping people make the right connections. Whether it’s turning an old YouTube video into a new idea or reaching out to a contact from one of the organization’s fairs, connectivity and thinking outside the box has provided countless inspirational stories.

In March, a connection to manufacturing solutions provider FabLab Milan resulted in an Italian hospital getting desperately needed ventilator valves via 3D printing company Isinnova within a day.

After watching a YouTube video posted by two Detroit doctors from 2006, Dr. Alain Gauthier, an anesthetist at the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital in Ontario, Canada, was able to turn a one-patient ventilator into a nine-person device.

A 2006 YouTube video by two Detroit doctors inspired a Canadian anesthetist to turn a ventilator designed for one person into a device that could be used by multiple people at a time. (Image courtesy of Alan Drummond.)

A 2006 YouTube video by two Detroit doctors inspired a Canadian anesthetist to turn a ventilator designed for one person into a device that could be used by multiple people at a time. (Image courtesy of Alan Drummond.)

Twitter has also become an effective way to share DIY hacks. When an Italian doctor noted a lack of oxygen sockets, Sudanese doctors posted a video showing how stethoscope tubing can be used to provide oxygen to patients. In Texas, Dr. Curtis Merritt shared directions for his solution to make around 60 masks using a household air filter. Meanwhile, personnel at Providence St. Joseph Health in Washington have embraced the DIY spirit by using office and craft store supplies to create face shields.

Staying connected has become vital during the ongoing pandemic. Along with Maker Faire, other grassroots networks have emerged to bring together makers and the people in need of quick solutions. Since launching on March 30, Maker Mask, a nonprofit digital platform, has grown to nearly 10,000 members that include hobbyist, health care organizations, universities, businesses and nonprofits.

Engineering.com is also in collaboration with Make:, and together they have launched Make: Projects, a problem-solving R&D platform where simple and complex DIY projects can be shared, reviewed and collaborated on with expert engineers and makers. The platform includes an open forum for COVID-19 discussions.