WFI 2021 Recognition – Idea of the Year Award

This year’s award for Idea of the Year was presented to the two inventors – Dr. Richard Corsi- Dean of Engineering, University of California Davis (US) and Mr. Jim Rosenthal – CEO, Tex Air Filters (US) for their creation of the Corsi/Rosenthal Box. This open-source design is an effective, inexpensive, safe, and easy-to-build DIY air cleaner. The multiple filters provide for high efficiency and substantial airflow. It was created to help clean the air during the Covid Pandemic, but it has also been used extensively to deal with wildfire smoke. Thousands of Corsi-Rosenthal boxes have been made in the USA over the past year. Variations of the design have been built in countries around the world. It is an excellent example of how a simple idea using air filters can help to provide safer and cleaner indoor environments.

“Dr. Corsi and I are honored to receive this award. It has been a pleasure for us to see how the simple idea of the Corsi/Rosenthal box has expanded and grown over the past year. Many, many people have contributed to the success of this idea. This award is for them as much as it is for us. As I have been saying for the past 18 months – ‘We are not helpless!’” Jim Rosenthal

The Corsi-Rosenthal Box fan was introduced at the WFI Webinar in September 2020.

“We would like to recognize all of our participants,” as Mitch said, “but a special thanks to the Corsi/Rosenthal- Box ”;

For more information, go to DIY box fan air filters – Corsi-Rosenthal box - Clean Air Crew or How to build CBS News.

We here at Waterloo Filtration Institute want to thank all of our speakers, committee members, moderators, chairs, and WFI sponsors for contributing to this very successful WFI 2021 Annual Conference. Thanks to everyone for your participation.

We wish you all a very Happy Holiday Season!!!