One of the more heartening aspects of the pandemic has been seeing people around the world step up to contribute what they can. Here in Nashville, Kevin Galloway — a Vanderbilt University professor of mechanical engineering and the director of making at Vanderbilt’s maker space The Wond’ry — worked with Vanderbilt University Medical Center doctors to design a ventilator that could be constructed with materials that are easy to obtain. Nonprofit Make Nashville worked with local businesses to fabricate the parts, and Vanderbilt grad students at The Wond’ry adapted windshield-wiper motors that would power the ventilators. Everything was assembled by members of Fort Houston, the Wedgewood-Houston maker space. The whole process was smart, creative and collaborative. Sounds like Nashville to me. ERICA CICCARONE
Best Maker Alliance
Fort Houston, Make Nashville and The Wond’ry
