Focusing on the Facts

Assistant Professor David Blodgett
Listen

The distribution of correct facts and knowledge during a pandemic is vital. Assistant Professor David Blodgett wants to reinforce that.

Blodgett, who teaches biotechnology in the Math and Science Division, recently created an online video to inform the Babson College community on the importance of social distancing, the dangers our health care system could face, and statistics surrounding the Coronavirus outbreak.

“There’s so much information out there, so being able to distill it into take-home messages to offer validity is valuable,” he said. “Education is key, and trying to put this in the perspective for our students is the least I could do.”

Why Social Distancing Is Imperative

In his 10-minute talk, Blodgett explained how social distancing could curb the spread of COVID-19. He said if the virus rapidly spreads, the number of sick patients will exceed the amount of hospital beds available.

“By limiting human-to-human contact, we allow hospitals, doctors, nurses, and staff to treat those who are sick without overwhelming the system and putting even more people at risk of dying,” Blodgett said. “By staying indoors, limiting social interactions as much as possible, we give the medical system a chance.”

Blodgett also explained the immense differences in mortality rates between seasonal flu and COVID-19. As of Monday morning, there have been more than 340,000 confirmed cases around the world, including about 35,000 in the United States, according to The Wall Street Journal. Almost 15,000 have died around the world.

He described the current moment as a “last chance” at decelerating the spread of the virus.

“We’re in this together,” he said. “Please take care of your fellow humans.”

Posted in Community

More from  »

Latest Stories

Three photos in a side-by-side collage depict Michael Kopelman coaching, Brady Anderson in action, and the doubles team celebrating
Courting Success: How Babson Tennis Teams Transformed into National Powerhouses With championships and top-tier recruiting classes, Babson Director of Tennis Michael Kopelman has overseen the transformation of the men’s and women’s programs into national powerhouses.
By
Scott Dietz
Writer
Scott Dietz
Scott Dietz is Babson College's Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications. Dietz is responsible for the department's internal and external communications, including branding, campus engagement, marketing, social media, sponsorships and website management. Additional duties consist of event coverage, facilitation of interview requests, media pitching, video content, writing and editing. Before Babson, Dietz spent 13-plus years at fellow NEWMAC institution Wheaton College, worked for the NFL, New England Patriots, and in the media relations department with the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. A native of South Park, PA, Dietz began his sports information career at Westminster College.
September 2, 2025

Posted in Community

Babson Build students from HBCUs participate in an exercise in the Weissman Foundry
An Entrepreneurial Summer: How Babson Impacts Communities Year-Round The school year may be over, but Babson’s work of educating entrepreneurial leaders doesn’t stop. In the summer, many entrepreneurs, educators, and leaders descend on campus. They come from around the globe to connect and to learn. What they take away from the College can impact their companies, their classrooms, and their communities.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
August 29, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Juan “JC” Grullon ’27 and Ty Bradford ’29 shake hands outside Publishers Hall
Publishers Hall Welcomes First-Year Students to Its Cozy Confines During move-in day, a new crop of first-year students made Publishers Hall their home. The small residence hall, built over a century ago, is known for the tight-knit communities that form there.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
August 28, 2025

Posted in Community