b'COVID-19 ResponseACROSS THE GLOBE, 2020 was a year unlike any other due to the COVID-19 pandemic. INL saw theBEA invests $200K in INL joins HPC consortium to quicken COVID-19 researchopportunity to increase its support of the local community while also using its employees knowledge tolocal community Across the country, individuals and groups banded together to do whatever they fight the novel virus.INL has a long history of giving backcould to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. to Idaho, and the COVID-19 pandemic INL joins DOEs collaborativewas no exception. To support theOne of the most important tools in this fight is knowledge gained from modeling and project to fight COVID-19 community, Battelle Energy Alliance,simulation to support COVID-19 research. Often projects like these involve massive To fight coronavirus, Idaho Nationalthe organization DOE has contractedamounts of data and complex variables that require powerful computing capabilities Laboratory researchers joined withto manage INL launched the INL Caresto analyze correctly. Using supercomputers can significantly shorten the time needed scientists from more than a dozen otherinitiative. The goal of the initiative wasto answer critical questions about how the virus works and how to stop it.national laboratories to participateto invest $200,000 in the community in the Energy Departments Nationalthrough its threefold mission: economicAs part of this, INL joined the COVID-19 High Performance Computing Virtual Biotechnology Laboratorydevelopment, health care educationConsortium, an association made up for 40 members providing a total of 5 (NVBL). INLs focus includedand food insecurity. As part of thismillion processing cores, totaling 483 petaflops. The group supported projects like research and development of newprogram, INL donated $100,000 to researching the viral spread of the virus and understanding the impact of potential ventilator technology in support of the28 businesses, teamed up with CrushCOVID-19 treatments.CARES Act, specifically the use ofthe Curve Idaho to sponsor a summer perfluorocarbon fluid instead of air toessay contest for K-12 students, andMost of us want to be doing something productive to help with this global carry oxygen. Total liquid ventilationdonated $60,000 to area food banks.challenge, said Eric Whiting, director of the Advanced Scientific Computing of the lungs is being examined as aDivision at INL. As an energy laboratory with powerful computing capabilities, way of treating critically ill patientsthis is one way to support those who are engaged in this critical work.with pulmonary problems. It consists of initially filling the lungs with perfluorocarbons and subsequent tidal ventilation using a dedicated liquid ventilator. Working with local businesses, the lab has also engaged INLs K-12 Education EnrichmentINL releases K-12 resourcesin developing materials for face masks Program provides resources to bothto support students that can self-sanitize after use. On parents and educators to supportThe COVID-19 pandemic threw manyJune 11, Rob OBrien, INLs director student learning. people for a loop, including parents whoof Advanced Manufacturing, testifiedThe Pocatello Branch of the became teachers overnight. Enter INLsbefore the U.S. House Science, SpaceIdaho Food Bank accepted a K-12 Education Enrichment Program.and Technology Committee about thecheck from BEA.INLs K-12 team already had severalnew technology.resources available for parents, students and educators, but it quickly put together lesson plans specifically for remote learning. Lessons like how to make a balloon-powered recycled car or about the basics of biomass. Over 5,000 people visited the website, downloading content to support student learning. 16 17'