In the wake of dramatic shifts to everyday life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty and researchers in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering are applying their expertise to study impacts of the pandemic and develop resilient strategies for going forward.
Five projects led by HCDE researchers have received emergency funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study the impact of the pandemic on remote work, technology and family life, decision-making, regional patterns, and the effect of misinformation online.
The NSF’s Rapid Response Research (RAPID) program funds proposals that require quick-response research on disasters and unanticipated events. Funds are to be used immediately to explore how to model and understand the spread of COVID-19, to inform and educate about the science of virus transmission and prevention, and to encourage the development of processes and actions to address this global challenge.
HCDE faculty and researchers are focused on the following COVID-19 related projects:
![Illustration of laptop with zoom screen](/files/uploads/news/work.png)
Coordinating Remote Work for Social Distancing to Stem the Spread of COVID-19
HCDE researcher:
Dr. Charlotte P. Lee
![Illustration of ipad with child's case, alexa, books](https://www.hcde.washington.edu/files/uploads/news/families.jpg)
Education, Work, and Life during COVID-19: Supporting Families at Home with Technology
HCDE researchers:
Dr. Julie Kientz, Dr. Sean Munson, Akeiylah DeWitt, Rebecca Michelson
![Illustration with megaphone and pattern of face masks](/files/news/images/mask-collage.jpg)
Coronavirus Risk Communication: How Age and Communication Format Affect Risk Perception and Behaviors
HCDE researcher:
Dr. Sonia Savelli
![Illustration of twitter bird icons circling the globe](https://www.hcde.washington.edu/files/uploads/news/twitter-world.jpg)
How Scientific Data, Knowledge, and Expertise Mobilize in Online Media During the COVID-19 Crisis
HCDE researcher:
Dr. Kate Starbird