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When the ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder campus shut down due to COVID-19 last spring, Professor Shelly Miller was quickly recruited to the campus’s COVID-19 task force, focusing on making buildings and facilities safe for on campus activities. Professor Miller is an Environmental Engineering professor who researches the sources, health impacts, and control of urban and indoor air pollution.

Shannon Horn, Lead Campus Mechanical Engineer, spearheads the task force. The team implemented many changes including using MERV 13 high efficiency filters, 100% outside air for ventilation, portable air cleaners when ventilation is not sufficient due to weather conditions, and ensuring everyone has a mask on inside and is staying socially distanced. Another potential solution the task force explored was using UV light to disinfect indoor air. However given the high demand for UV light and the rapid turnover to implement COVID-19 mitigators, alternate solutions were put into action. 

Miller is an advocate for germicidal UV light as a disinfection method in, “spaces that need to be occupied for longer periods of time, where people are needing to talk,” such as schools, correctional facilities, restaurants, and homeless shelters. Miller said, “Germicidal UV is a great approach for supplementing ventilation when you can’t use it—like in the winter you can’t run 100% outside air.”

With the ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ, cooling weather, and the Boulder County Public Health Order that restricted gatherings for 18- to 22-year-olds, it can be a challenge to improve and maintain a good level of ventilation. Miller recommends that students living in houses or dorms open a window because they’re typically not equipped with outside supply air ventilation. Miller said, “what I would do is buy a space heater and run it and keep my windows open all of the time.” For those who do not have windows in their rooms, Miller recommends investing in an air cleaner and restricting access to their room.

During the last week of September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) accidently released an update to their COVID-19 transmission information page, confirming that COVID-19 can be spread via airborne transmission. However, the CDC quickly removed the update, citing that it was an unreviewed draft published in error. The CDC released an update on Oct. 5, 2020 that said, “The principal mode by which people are infected with SARS-CoV-2 [the virus that causes COVID-19] is through exposure to respiratory droplets carrying infectious virus.” Miller explained that the accidental posting deeply hurt the credibility of the CDC. She said, “People are now really concerned that it’s become a very political institution that’s trying to silence its scientists...it’s really impacting their reputation.” 

Without clear information and guidance from government entities, non-experts are negatively affected. With the CDC confirming transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via respiratory droplets, the general public can build a greater understanding of why activities like breathing, speaking, singing, coughing, and sneezing can quickly spread the virus. 

Miller has taken on additional responsibility during this pandemic. She’s teaching her usual classes, running research in her lab at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder, participating in interviews and providing resources to whomever she can. Miller says it’s been difficult to manage her regular work, her family, and her health while also actively tending to the community and trying to save lives. “Scientists are more than willing to help, but there’s not a lot of us with specific expertise in aerosol disease transmission and control,” Miller said. Because of this, scientists who share Miller’s sense of responsibility are shouldering heavy loads.

Ultimately, Miller understands that it’s challenging for students right now who want to socialize and see their friends, especially when adults are not necessarily presenting the best example, such as government officials not wearing masks. Miller remarked, “You have your whole life ahead of you to do large gatherings and socialize, but for these few months if you can wear a mask and reign it in a little, it will make this thing go away so much faster, and we will all be better off for it,”. 
To ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ students, Miller has a message, “If you need me, I’ll be here.” 

Photo courtesy of Shelly Miller