b'Member News July 2020 5COVID-19 updatesMore recently, with the coronavirus pandemic, weve been focusing on what key messaging and good news stories we can share with the media that are relevant to the outbreak. Working with Dr Peter Bannister FIET, Chair of the IETs Healthcare Panel, weve been working to release statements around medical equipment needed and how technology can aid mental wellbeing.Peter has been quoted in over 100In his second audio recording, he talked regional newspapers, commenting onabout impacts on mental wellbeingAmazon being approached to deliverand how technology can help, which COVID-19 test kits to frontline workers,was picked up by 97 radio stations.and featuring on BBC 5 Live and Sky News talking about the consortia of engineeringWeve also sent out press releases companies working on breathing aids inabout our education resources place of ventilators. Hes also taken partbeing made available, FIRST in two audio recordings that were sent toLEGO League packs being sentcommercial and community radio stations,to schools for key workers children, firstly calling on UK engineering andand how were releasing COVID-19 tech firms to support the Governmentsrelated research to support campaign to produce vital medicalresearchers in fight against virus;equipmentthis was picked up by 94all of which have been picked up radio stations.by relevant trade press. Dr Peter Bannister FIET, Chair of the IETs Healthcare PanelTalk COVID-19: situations, to facilitating a link between suppliers of medical equipment (who are unable to meet demand) and experienced Continuing the conversation withmanufacturers in safety critical equipment, to potentially harnessing the power of mobile technology.Engineering Communities Online Other topics of discussion include COVID-19 myth-busting, lighting solutions, With more than 60,000discussion with the topic COVID-19:AI for healthcare crises, support for Meeting the challenges throughmental health and wellbeing and how to engineering professionals,engineering. counter the ill effects of social isolation our online communityHaving been asked by Government tothrough technological solutions.provides space to connect,gather innovative and practical ideas fromAs well as the breadth of knowledge our engineering communities, Jeremyand many potential ideas as to how we collaborate and discusscan engineer a solution to COVID-19, our invited fellow engineers to contribute the issues we face withintheir suggestions that might help addressonline discussions showcase the solidarity engineering. and support the fight against COVID-19.of the engineering community. Across the Ideas ranged from adapting SCUBAwhole spectrum of industry and academia, In response to the coronavirus pandemic,diving kits in order to provide portablewe want to show how engineering can we created the Talk COVID-19 discussionrespiratory support for emergencychange the world.forum; a place to talk about the challenges faced as a result of the virus. IET PastIf youve got any ideas to contribute to the discussion, continue the conversation President (2016-17) Professor Jeremyat: communities.theiet.org. Share your knowledge to help others, join your Watson CBE FREng FIET kicked off theengineering community.'