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Science at Cal would like to provide our followers and members with a list of curated resources around COVID-19. We hope that this page will help you better understand scientific topics surrounding COVID-19, help answer some of your questions, and, as a result, provide a sense of clarity during these uncertain times. We will be updating content daily and hope you visit again as the science progresses.
The Science of Covid-19

NEW VIDEO SERIES: “Chatting-in-Place” featuring UC Berkeley scientists

Science at Cal presents “Chatting-in-Place”, a new video series featuring UC Berkeley researchers. In these short interviews, we’ll be asking UC Berkeley scientists about COVID-19 developments and the latest virus science research taking place across campus. You’ll be able to find the videos on our YouTube page.

The first installment of Chatting-in-Place features Prof. Britt Glaunsinger from the Department of Plant & Microbial Biology. How does a virus transfer from animals to humans? How does a virus take over a cell? Get the answers to these questions and more by watching here!

URGENT REQUEST: Sleep Apnea Machines Needed for COVID-19 Patients

Professor Grace O’Connell, UC Berkeley professor of mechanical engineering, is working with a large team of engineers and physicians to repurpose sleep apnea machines for COVID19 patients.

VentilatorSOS.com has intake forms for people that are willing to donate their sleep apnea machine. These devices have relatively low compliance rates, so there are potentially millions of devices sitting in people’s closets.

Learn more by watching the ABC7news broadcast about the effort here, and share this information with your networks!

Ask a Berkeley Scientist!

Ask a Berkeley Scientist: COVID-19 Edition

What is a virus? How do scientists build vaccines? How does a virus travel? You might be asking yourself these same questions! Luckily for us, we are surrounded by scientists across UC Berkeley who are at the frontlines of virus science and public health research. And Science at Cal wants to make sure you have all of your questions answered.

If you could ask a scientist a question, what would it be?

Submit your questions here

NEW VIDEO SERIES: Berkeley Conversations: COVID-19

“UC Berkeley has launched a new online video series, ‘Berkeley Conversations: COVID-19,’ to connect UC Berkeley experts with the public and each other. Through Q&As, seminars, and panel discussions, faculty from a wide range of disciplines – from epidemiology to economics to the computing and data now undergirding their work – will share what they know, and what they are learning.

Check out the video series website to learn more!

The Exploratorium’s Learning Toolbox

At the Learning Toolbox for COVID-19 School Closures, you can engage in activities about the science of coronavirus and explore online resources including videos and articles for at home learning.

Explore our vast collection of inquiry-rich activities for teaching and learning science with simple materials.

Cal Day - Science!

Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019: Messages for parents, school staff, and others working with children

“As public conversations around coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increase, children may worry about themselves, their family, and friends getting ill with COVID-19. Parents, family members, school staff, and other trusted adults can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear. CDC has created guidance to help adults have conversations with children about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.”

The Lawrence at Home

Even though UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science is closed, that doesn’t mean the fun and learning has to stop! At this site, you can find science-centric family-friendly things for you to do at home. Explore, investigate, discover and invent through DIY projects, meet animal friends, watch science demonstrations, shows, and more!

Community Resources for Science

Our partners at Community Resources for Science (CRS) have also pulled together their resources to share with families and teachers, including videos from the amazing BASIS (Bay Area Scientists in Schools) teams, made up of UC Berkeley students. Many of them are working on Science@Home videos so they can continue to share science explorations with students and families!

 

How a CRISPR Lab Became a Pop-Up COVID Testing Center

“As the government fumbled COVID-19 testing, researchers at UC Berkeley’s Innovative Genomics Institute stepped up—with their own time and funding.”  by Megan Molteni & Gregory Barber at WIRED 

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

“Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) News and Resources” includes helpful links to helpful information, including upcoming live events, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Scientific American’s Coverage of The Coronavirus Outbreak

Scientific American, has written numerous articles about the Coronavirus that span a range of fields including Medical & Biotech, Behavior & Society, Policy & Ethics, and Medicine. Scientific American has provided insights about developments in science and technology through their magazine for more than 170 years.

Berkeley Public Health Experts Weigh in on the Novel Coronavirus

Berkeley Public Health provides a collection of articles on this resource page as well as providing articles from their own team of experts. Berkeley School of Public Health is recognizes by The Center for Disease Control and Prevention as one of nine health promotion and disease prevention research centers around the nation.

Berkeley Wellness: COVID-19, An Update

Berkeley Wellness, in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, is the leading online resource for evidence-based wellness information. In this article, John Swartzberg, MD, an infectious disease expert and professor emeritus at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, gives his perspective on COVID-19.