Obama looks to inventors for ways to fight Ebola

JIM KUHNHENN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is looking for a few smart ideas from the science and technology fields that could help address the challenge posed by Ebola.

Obama met with members of his Council of Advisers on Science and Technology on Thursday, looking to tap into the world of inventors and innovators in the face of the West African outbreak that has touched U.S. shores.

The Obama administration has launched a challenge to entrepreneurs to develop improved protective gear used by health care workers. In addition, the White House is also encouraging the robotics industry to determine whether robots could help Ebola response efforts.

Thursday’s meeting participants included John Holdren, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and a dozen academic and private sector scientists.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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