University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and 4-H Join Fight Against COVID-19

The Blue Ridge University of Arizona 4-H Fab Lab is joining the fight against COVID-19 by making personal protective equipment (PPE) and prototypes of new designs for ventilator parts.

A partnership between 4-H and the Blue Ridge Unified School District in Navajo County, the fabrication laboratory – Fab Lab – includes digital fabrication equipment and electronics platforms normally available for use by students and community members. The lab opened in 2018 after Kevin Woolridge, a science and math teacher at Blue Ridge High School, and Navajo County Extension Director Steve Gouker, had the idea to integrate STEM into the county 4-H program.

– Faith Schwartz, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension