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<p>Dear All,</p>
<p>You will have received the Principal’s Update message earlier
today that refers to the Level 4 restrictions that are coming into
effect in Glasgow and surrounding areas for the next three weeks,
starting from 6pm tomorrow. <br>
</p>
<p>My present understanding of what this means for our Department
is:</p>
<p><u>Teaching:</u> In Level 4, learning and teaching will be online
with an exception for the delivery of critical and time-sensitive
learning and assessment that cannot be delivered remotely or
postponed. This does not affect our plans because we have already
moved all of our teaching, learning and assessment online for the
rest of semester 1.</p>
<p><u>Research:</u> Only essential work should be carried out in
laboratories and research facilities under Level 4. The University
Executive Team, in consultation with the Scottish Government, will
decide what constitutes essential research. This consultation is
ongoing and we may not know the outcome before the weekend or
beginning of next week. Until otherwise instructed, my advice is
to proceed on the assumption that our laboratory research
activities previously approved by the RRDG will continue, but be
prepared to shut down equipment at relatively short notice if
instructed to do so tomorrow or early next week. If you consider
yourself that the research activity you have planned is
non-essential, then please postpone it until the Level 4
restrictions are lifted.</p>
<p>The number of staff and PGRs in our buildings should be minimised
as far as possible in this three week period. I therefore ask
group leaders who are running experiments and other
laboratory-based research activities to plan those activities in a
way that minimises the number of researchers and support staff
that are required to come in. Needless to say, but any research
that can be carried out remotely should be during this period.</p>
<p>I will also be liaising with line-managers of research support
staff to reduce their numbers on campus in the next three weeks. <br>
</p>
<p>I will communicate any developments as soon as they are known.</p>
<p>Thank you for your cooperation.</p>
<p>Best wishes,<br>
Paul<br>
<br>
</p>
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Prof. Paul McKenna
Head of Department
Department of Physics, SUPA,
University of Strathclyde,
Glasgow G4 0NG
U.K.
Tel: 0141-548-3132 (secretary) / 5712 (direct)
Email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:paul.mckenna@strath.ac.uk">paul.mckenna@strath.ac.uk</a>
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