Thursday, March 19, 2020

Office of Research issues guidance on laboratory operations

Vice-President, Research and International Charmaine Dean has circulated a memo to employees and graduate students on how laboratory operations should be handled in light of the modifications made to University services. The key messages of that memo are as follows: 

• All researchers must safely suspend non-critical lab operations by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 20  
• Researchers must only maintain on-campus research if it is deemed critical research .
• If you believe you have critical on-campus research that must continue please seek approval from researchqueries@uwaterloo.ca.
• All research with direct human participant contact (physical assessments, in person interviews) is suspended.
• We have suspended all research-related travel – including international and domestic travel – for faculty, staff and students .
• We will prioritize review of new research proposals or amendments related to COVID-19 . 

"Yesterday we heard from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the importance of taking every possible measure to help reduce the spread of COVID-19," Dean writes. "The University is continuing to take steps to safeguard our people, enable employees to work from home through the delivery of alternative and online services and maintain critical on-campus functions."  

"We are asking that researchers only maintain research on-campus if it is deemed critical research, until further notice. Critical research includes lab activities, that if disrupted, would result in serious loss of research data, material or equipment."   

"Due to the rapidly changing situation, it is paramount that researchers take the necessary steps to delay or suspend research activities that rely on physical campus resources or buildings.  We need to think about what on-campus research needs to proceed and ensure the safety of our research staff and students."   

"To be clear – unless critical to your research, you must make every effort to limit the research activity happening on campus. Research activity that can be done from home can continue. And you must prepare, even if your on-campus research is deemed critical, to close down on campus research activities at short notice." 

"We have a responsibility at this time to take measures that can help to slow the spread of the virus and protect more vulnerable populations that are at increased risk of more severe outcomes," the vice-president writes.

The University’s COVID-19 website is being kept up to date with important information.   

Read the full memo, which contiains provisions for laboratories, research priorities, funding, and travel.  

Student association provides update on service modifications

The Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) is working to keep students informed of the latest developments of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. WUSA has created a COVID-19 page that contains the latest updates/info for students.

WUSA's offices and business operations in the Student Life Centre are closed, as well as all student society-related businesses including CNDs.

"The Food Bank is looking for specific donations to help support our students during these difficult times," says a note fro WUSA. If you are able, please consider donating the following: 

• Canned Chicken/Turkey
• Canned fruits
• Canned Tomatoes
• Pasta Sauce
• Cereal
• Crackers
• Rice

"Please drop these items off in the SLC basement, across from the CIBC, as we cannot pick up from our regular donation locations during the next few weeks," says a note from WUSA. "Hampers are available at Turnkey for those in need." 

Global Impact: Helping police react to mental health crises

This is an excerpt of an article originally published in Waterloo Stories as part of an ongoing Global Impact series.

Each day across Canada, police officers respond to emergency calls in which mental health is a key concern. This can result in complex, potentially volatile situations where an officer’s ability to respond effectively is crucial. “Providing accurate information can go a long way to providing better care for the individuals involved, so everyone understands the situation in the same terms,” says Daniel Pearson Hirdes, a Waterloo alumnus and co-founder of HealthIM. His platform is being used in 21 police services and RCMP detachments in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan to inform on-scene decision-making and connecting those in need to appropriate support services.

Read how intelligence-driven tech is supporting both individuals in crisis and the officers assisting them.

Updates on campus service modifications and other notes

The geese shall inherit the earth: birds are goose-stepping around Needles Hall as they consolidate their power.

UW Police Services have begun locking down the tunnels and bridges that connect University buildings and will be closing certain buildings in an orderly fashion in an effort to allow Plant Operations to deploy essential resources in an efficient fashion. Most buildings on campus remain open and accessible via their exterior entrances.

StudentCare's office in the Student Life Centre has closed until further notice.

The planned March drop-off dates for the "Duds for Studs" initiative, which was seeking gently used suits, formal wear, dress pants and shirts for students who otherwise couldn't afford them during prom and graduation season, have been cancelled. The initiative is organized by Chin Heng Lee of the Institute for Quantum Computing.