A coalition of businesses and government partners, the Ad Astra Coalition has joined together to answer some of the challenges being created in Wichita and Kansas by the COVID-19 pandemic. The coalition is co-led by Airbus Americas Engineering, Spirit AeroSystems, Textron Aviation, Wichita State University and WSU Tech.

The coalition is using a two-phased approach:

For phase one, the coalition will focus on creating and distributing critical personal protective equipment (PPE) for the medical community and first responders. It is hoped the PPE will help address the shortages being experienced throughout the state of Kansas, including Sedgwick County.

Examples of PPE currently being considered include temporary face shields and disposable stethoscopes. The coalition is also exploring the possibility of providing disposable barrier gowns and intubation boxes.

The second phase will focus on the recovery efforts after the pandemic subsides. Once social distancing efforts are no longer required, everyone will experience a transition period to return to a sense of normalcy. The coalition will seek to aid the people of Sedgwick County and south-central Kansas as these communities resume their daily activities.

While it is not yet known the exact types of resources that will be needed, the members of the Ad Astra Coalition will seek to provide assistance through outreach efforts and other programs.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a complex, challenging and fluid situation that continues to evolve rapidly. The coalition will do its best efforts to quickly respond to emerging needs of our community and region.

To help support the initiatives of the coalition, the WSU Foundation has created the COVID-19 Innovation Forward Fund. Learn more about donating to the cause at https://foundation.wichita.edu/innovationforward.

“It is so inspiring to see the community rally together to use innovation to protect those who protect us,” says Wichita State President Jay Golden.

Wichita State is distinctive for opening pathways to applied learning, applied research and career opportunities, alongside unsurpassed classroom, laboratory and online education. The university’s beautiful 330-acre main campus is a supportive, rapidly expanding learn-work-live-play environment, where students gain knowledge and credentials to prepare for fulfilling lives and careers. Students enjoy a wide selection of day, evening and summer courses in more than 200 areas of study at the main campus and other locations throughout the metro area and online. WSU’s approximately 16,000 students come from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 other countries. Wichita State’s Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university’s vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.