The waterjet that’s helping Iowa State employees stay safe

When Hoa Chi, a teaching lab coordinator in the agricultural and biosystems engineering department, caught wind of an idea during a virtual department meeting in May, he decided he could help his colleagues minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 through the use of Plexiglass desk shields. Chi’s creation will assist in preventing spread while saving money when employees start working in the office again because they won’t have to purchase desk shields.

Chi typically helps students with research and capstone projects, and he oversees the waterjet in an agricultural and biosystems engineering laboratory in Sukup Hall. He uses the waterjet to cut Plexiglass from sheets to create table-mounted or hanging shields – an effective way to quickly and inexpensively build shields for faculty and staff.

Chi began by making shields for the agricultural and biosystems engineering department, but once Steve Mickelson, the department chair and holder of the Charles R. and Jane F. Olsen Professorship in Engineering, told other College of Engineering leaders about it, he found there was widespread interest.

As of right now, Chi has about 50 to 60 requests for desk shields and hopes to provide one for anyone at the university who needs it.