Karina Popovich

Karina Popovich (born 2001), a Ukrainian American Cornell University alumnus, is the founder of Inertia, a company that combines STEM and art, primarily in underfunded schools; Alpha, a 3D printed clothing company; and Makers for COVID-19/Makers for Change. As a 19-year-old, she led a global-initiative to 3D-print and distribute tens of thousands of personal protective gear. She was selected as one of 125 women for the Smithsonian's IF/THEN collection of scientists.

Career

At age 19, Popovich founded "Makers for COVID-19", a global coalition of hobbyists and 3D printer owners which printed face shields, face masks, and other protective gear during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2][3] It has turned into Makers for Change as the pandemic winds down, focusing students on making a change in their community.[4]

Alpha, Popovich's 3D-printed clothing brand, had a Maker line featuring diverse women in science and technology.[5][6]

Inertia creates popup marketing campaigns combining STEM and art[4] aimed at making STEM for accessible to girls and other marginalized groups.[7]

Popovich is one of 125 women in STEM who were 3D scanned for the IF/THEN Collection at the Smithsonian.[7][3]

Education and early life

Popovich's parents immigrated from Ukraine shortly before she was born.[4]

Popovich is majoring in Applied Economics and Management at the Dyson School of Business at Cornell University.[3][4]

Awards and honors

  • AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador, 2019[3]
  • #IfThenSheCan Statue, 2022[8][9]
  • Clinton Global Initiative University COVID-19 Response Award[10]
  • Robinson-Appel Humanitarian Award, Cornell University[10]

References

  1. ^ "Meet Teen Vogue's 21 Under 21: The Young People Beating the Odds". Teen Vogue. 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  2. ^ "Meet the College Freshman Helping Frontline Hospital Workers - Ms. Magazine". msmagazine.com. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  3. ^ a b c d "| IF/THEN® Collection". www.ifthencollection.org. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  4. ^ a b c d Griffin, Jill. "To Be Successful, Create Inertia". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  5. ^ "Representation Matters: Reinvented Partners with Alpha toward a More Diverse STEM". Reinvented Magazine. 2020-03-24. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  6. ^ "promoting, supporting and inspiring women in the Additive Manufacturing industry". Women in 3D Printing. 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  7. ^ a b Copman, Linda (2021-04-30). "Making space: creating a female culture in STEM". Alumni, parents, and friends | Cornell University. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  8. ^ Wetzel, Corryn. "Smithsonian Honors Female Scientists With 120 Bright Orange Statues". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  9. ^ "Smithsonian puts focus on STEM standouts for Women's History Month". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  10. ^ a b "Karina Popovich". Student & Campus Life | Cornell University. Retrieved 2022-04-01.