UWâMadison alumâs mask makes Time magazineâs list of best inventions of 2020 For news media
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While studying abroad in Singapore as a University of WisconsinâMadison mechanical engineering undergraduate student in 2013, Max Bock-Aronson experienced heightened levels of air pollution firsthand.
He also happened to be taking an engineering course on air pollution, where he was learning, among other things, about the mechanics of filtration.
âI was learning that the masks that people commonly wore in Southeast Asia, such as cloth masks and surgical masks, arenât actually very effective at filtration,â he says. âSo for dealing with poor air quality, these masks unfortunately donât provide much benefit.â