Ebola Not Just a Matter for Medicine

As Ebola continues to pose national and international risks, engineers are being called on to design devices and processes that protect against the virus.  Linda Powers, electrical and computer engineering professor, is among the University of Arizona researchers contributing to preventative methods while also training the next generation of engineers to be prepared for global biomedical issues.

Powers spoke to dozens of Engineering 102 freshmen and high school students during an October presentation about the vital role engineers play in cases of epidemic or pandemic outbreak. ECE professor and Engineering 102 instructor Kathleen Melde said Powers, who is developing methods to advance the detection of infectious diseases, is the quintessential example of good engineering -- applying technical ingenuity to improve people’s lives.

“When people think about electrical engineers, they envision someone sitting in a cubicle developing circuits,” said Melde. “That couldn't be further from the truth. Most engineers choose engineering because they want to help people, and, as those like Linda Powers show, we are at the forefront of helping people."

Read the complete story on Ebola and engineers.