Adapting the Laboratory for Laser Energetics to the pandemic
How did researchers who would normally travel to the University’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics accomplish their work safely—and remotely—during the pandemic? By introducing innovations such as an enhanced communication video stream and faster high-resolution scans of films showing the results of experiments to allow remote collaborators to make adjustments. While there is the hope that soon there will be more activity inside the building from researchers near and far, there is also agreement that after the pandemic restrictions have lifted completely some of the innovations developed during the pandemic are here to stay.
In today’s issue:
Guidance has been updated to temporarily allow admitted students to register to walk around outdoor spaces on the River Campus
The spring round of the University’s Technology Development Fund has opened
Yellowjacket athletes continue to share “How I Got Started”
Since Wednesday’s notice in @Rochester, there are three new cases of COVID-19 to report: two River Campus students and one River Campus employee. Please note that the University’s COVID-19 Dashboard is updated daily. Whenever a new case is known, the contact-tracing process begins immediately with confirmed exposures being contacted and required to quarantine.
It’s extremely important for the health of the University community that individuals continue to adhere to the face masking and social distancing protocols. Even as some individuals are now receiving their first or second dose of the vaccine, these practices to prevent the transmission of the virus cannot be relaxed.
If you think you’re experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, it’s important to report them through Dr. Chat Bot—for non–Medical Center faculty, staff, and all students and for Medical Center employees—immediately. Even if you think your symptoms might be something else—like a cold, seasonal congestion, or allergies—it’s still important to tell University health professionals and contact tracers what you’re experiencing.
Admitted students can register to walk around River Campus’ outdoor spaces
The University’s guidance on campus visitors has been updated to allow admitted students the opportunity to visit River Campus by appointment to walk around its outdoor spaces. Knowing that many admitted students and their families want this on-campus experience, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions requested this exception to the visitor guidance, which currently restricts outside visitors from being on campus. The exception for admitted students, which is in effect immediately, will be in place until May 3 and is only for the River Campus. All admitted students must make an appointment for their River Campus visit, complete all of the required COVID-19 health screenings, and limit their walk-around to only the campus’s outdoor areas. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions remains closed to indoor visitors with most admissions staff working remotely and facilitating more than 50 virtual sessions for admitted students and their parents. Admitted students will be notified directly with details about how to register.
Town Hall meeting today provides info on upcoming power outages
University Facilities and Services will host a virtual town hall meeting for the Arts, Sciences & Engineering community today from 3 to 3:30 p.m. EDT about planned power shutdowns to designated buildings between April 16 and 18. A building outage map and building outage list provide details. The outages, which are expected to be less than 30 minutes, are part of an electrical system upgrade that will increase capacity to serve the University’s growing electric demand.
Equipment on an emergency generator should not experience a power outage. If critical research or other non-life safety equipment is not on emergency power or has uninterrupted power supply backup available, you should consider shutting down your equipment. The Medical Center will also be affected by the outages. Watch for Facilities notices and updates in @Rochester, Medical Center publications, and the URMC intranet as the shutdown approaches.
State of the School of Arts & Sciences address video
Last week, Dean Gloria Culver gave a virtual update on the School of Arts & Sciences, the school’s accomplishments this year, and an update on what the fall semester will look like. A recording of the address is available here.
Flags will be lowered for James Gosnell
University flags will be lowered Thursday, April 15, for James Gosnell, a hazardous waste chemist in environmental health and safety, who died on March 17. Gosnell joined the University staff in 2000.
Asked about the future of Parkinson’s disease in the US, Ray Dorsey, the David M. Levy Professor of Neurology and director of the Center for Health and Technology at the Medical Center, says, “We’re on the tip of a very, very large iceberg.” Dorsey, the author of Ending Parkinson’s Disease, believes a Parkinson’s epidemic is on the horizon. “We think over the next 25 years it will double again.”
Undergraduates from Rochester’s athletic teams share a little about their athletic, academic, and personal backgrounds. New profiles are added each day on the Athletics website. Recent profiles include
Joseph Rende ’22 talks about his role on the baseball team and working with youth programs when he’s back home
Scott Sikorski ’23, who runs on two different relays for the men’s track and field team, shares what brought him to Rochester
Yaya Wang ’21, a member of the women’s tennis team, talks about how she became involved in the sport
Did you know that if you are sexually active, you should get tested for sexually transmitted infections at least once a year? Sign up for free rapid HIV, hepatitis C, and syphilis testing at UHS provided by Trillium Health on Tuesday, April 13, and Thursday, April 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. It only takes 15 minutes to get your results.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by clutter and obligations at home or work, or finding it difficult to maintain a work/life/family balance? Learn how minimalism can help you take back your power and improve your ability to determine needs from wants. Join UR Medicine EAP and Well-U on Tuesday, April 13, from noon to 1 p.m. EDT for this Health Bites session. Register here.
Information sessions on Certificate of Achievement in Community-Engaged Learning
Attend a one-hour session where staff, faculty, and students who have been through the program will answer all of your questions about working toward a Certificate of Achievement in Community-Engaged Learning. Sessions take place today, Thursday, April 8, and Thursday, April 15, from 6 to 7 p.m. EDT via Zoom. The link will be provided upon registration.
Learn about the Advanced Certification Program in Marriage and Family Therapy
The Family Therapy Training Program will offer a virtual information session about the advanced certification program in marriage and family therapy on Tuesday, April 13, at noon EDT. Email Carol Podgorski if you are interested in attending; you will be sent a link to join in the conversation.
Faculty artist concert features works by Mozart, Chopin, and Schubert
Medical Scientist Research Symposium keynote address
Tonya Webb, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, will give the keynote address at this year’s Medical Scientist Research Symposium. The lecture, “It’s All About the Journey: Identification of Factors Impacting Natural Killer T Cell Responses to Cancer,” takes place Friday, April 16, from noon to 1:30 p.m. EDT. Registration is preferred but not required.
Technology Development Fund accepting applications
The spring 2021 round of the University’s Technology Development Fund (TDF) has opened. Eligible projects propose the development of a technology to a commercial endpoint. TDF awards are up to $100,000 and support animal testing, prototyping, and other proof-of-concept studies. The fund is open to all faculty, staff, and students; however, a submitted invention disclosure to URVentures is required with an application. Pre-proposal applications are due to Omar Bakht by May 3.
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