COVID-19 Pandemic: Letter from SPI Exec

[Science Policy Initiative scipolnd]

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We hope that you, your family, friends, and coworkers are in good health and that this message finds you well. As you certainly know, ND has cancelled all student activities for the remainder of the academic year, taking these necessary actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Although we are disappointed that we have to cancel our programming, we want to share with you our 2019-2020 high impact successes:

• We revamped our science cafe program and received support from the Provost's office. 
• We were awarded a $3,000 microgrant from the National Science Policy Network to put on our programming and form coalitions across the state. 
• Our 2nd annual Indiana Science Communication Day was a huge success, more than tripling our attendance from last year!

None of this would have been possible without hard work from our dedicated team, and our members showing up when it matters. 

Although the university has cancelled in-person student events, we are considering monthly zoom meetings or Facebook Live Science Cafes as a way to stay active and connected during this crisis. If you have a spare moment, please fill out this google form and let us know if this is something you would be interested in. Link: https://forms.gle/tkNtSEs41HCunwRY8 

SPI has always encouraged our members to use their skills as scientists, and their experiences as citizens, to make the world a better place. We have been training to interface with the public and be a voice for science, and this is our moment. We are watching science policy in action, and it is overwhelming and terrifying. If we step up to the plate now, and be both good citizens and good scientists, our world will be better for it. If you are at home, feeling helpless, and want to take action, here’s a few options:  

Options to help as a scientist: 

Sign up to lend your expertise/skillsets to the St. Joseph County Health Department (running qPCR, ELISAs, dataset management, donation of materials, etc.):

St. Joseph County Scientist Volunteer Form (please circulate to your ND, IUSB, and St. Mary’s friends!!!): https://docs.google.com/a/nd.edu/forms/d/10J02jAnNH-w3D90YNHuzdS1UhAm4CahUIX_JejwPJLo/edit?usp=drive_web

National COVID-19 Pandemic Scientist Volunteer Form (Same form as St. Joseph County, but this form enters a national database): https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLScXC56q2tPgz0WbPrhP7WareiclfxfaKQFI0ZbXg4FkKan5iQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR0ewv4syxKN-zH0sNBjOERsssD4VXCSg7V5_CpS0f1oZkSKnU1oidZMNOc

Encourage your PI’s to donate extra Personal Protective equipment (PPE): https://ppelink.wordpress.com

This website was created specifically for researchers to donate their PPE. Tyvek suits, N95 masks, and gloves are all on the list of shortages. 

You can also contact Jessica Brookshire (jbro...@nd.edu) at Notre Dame, and she can tell you where to take supplies that will go to St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Memorial Hospital. 

Train a ChatBot to answer questions about COVID-19 with the most up to date, scientifically accurate information:

https://airtable.com/shrlIg2WBNRGljHsy

Options to help as a citizen: 

Donate Blood!!

The South Bend Medical Foundation appointment books are filling up, and any help is much appreciated: 

https://givebloodnow.com/index.cfm?group=op&bbsid=4&step=2&fbclid=IwAR2BAebs8lCge2jQEOoaLtKP0eabscWAKaR6l217AU8UETpL3i34NOAmxTk

Donate to Feeding America:

We know, as graduate students, our donation capabilities are especially limited. However, if you can give, please consider it. 

Many families rely on school lunches and are now left at home in need of nutrition for their children. These organizations are providing meals to those children most in need: 

https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/education/where-schools-across-st-joseph-county-area-are-offering-free/article_c7fb0e38-684c-11ea-8c83-ef132ccfdc29.html

Please consider donating to organizations like Feeding America to make sure that families in our community do not go hungry during the global pandemic. https://www.feedingamerica.org/

Take care of the people around you: 

Make sure your elderly and high risk neighbors have the supplies they need. 

Wash your hands.

Follow the CDC guidelines, stay calm and rational, and stay home as much as possible. 

Graduate students are feeling caught between worlds: we are somehow students, but also essential personnel. I know some of you feel that the University is only speaking to undergraduates, while graduate students are being asked to step up like never before. Simultaneously, we are trying to figure out how to teach remotely, and finish our degree in a timely manner, with uncertainty around every corner. 

In some cases, we may be asked to put ourselves at risk to continue research. 

This crisis has blasted wide open the power inequities that graduate students face every day, and we know some of you feel left behind, your concerns unheard.

SPI urges you to be advocates for yourself and your health. 

If you feel unsafe, please contact John Lubker, our Graduate Student Ombudsperson:

jlub...@nd.edu 

574-631-5778

He can help you resolve conflict with your PI’s, and give you resources to properly follow University policy related to social distancing and Notre Dame’s COVID response. 

Please stay safe and well, we hope to see you all on the other side of this.

All the best, 

SPI Exec