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<p>Dear All,</p>
<p>A quick update regarding laboratory research activity during
Level 4 restrictions. <br>
</p>
<p>Late on Friday the University received additional guidance from
the Scottish Government on essential work permitted in
laboratories and research facilities in areas subject to
protection Level 4. Following this, over the weekend the Faculty
and departments received requests to submit additional detail and
justification for keeping essential research activities running
over the next three weeks, which we have done earlier today. These
documents are being reviewed tonight and we expect to get a
response from the University Executive Team either late tonight or
early tomorrow. <br>
</p>
I'll be in touch again as soon as I know, but for now and until
we're told otherwise, I'm assuming that we can carry on with
essential research activities previously approved through RRDG.
Staff should be prepared to shut down equipment at relatively short
notice if instructed to do so tomorrow. Please also minimise the
number of researchers coming in to campus. Members of admin staff
and a many of our technical staff will be working from home during
Level 4. <br>
<p>Best wishes,<br>
<br>
Paul <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 19/11/2020 18:44, Paul McKenna
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:2cf668aa-8689-0c54-4a8f-3b2535077c59@strath.ac.uk">
<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>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
----------------------------------------------
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" moz-do-not-send="true">paul.mckenna@strath.ac.uk</a>
----------------------------------------------</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
----------------------------------------------
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>
----------------------------------------------</pre>
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