Responding to COVID-19: Research Operations at Birck

https://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/birck/for-birck-users/covid/index.php

Seminars /Workshops / Events

Professor Pramey Upadhyaya Webinar

February 4^th, 2021 | 10am – 11am

Title: Hybrid Quantum Spintronics (Abstract Attached)

Zoom Link: https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/3164232249

nanoHUB is excited to announce the first four workshops for the Spring 2021 session of our Hands-on Data Science and Machine Learning Training Series.

Series information. Our series is aimed at active researchers and educators and designed to introduce practical skills with online, hands-on activities participnts

will be able to incorporate in their work. Hands-on activities will use nanoHUB cloud computing resources, no need to download or install any software. All you

need is an internet connection and a browser. After the training sessions, you will be able to continue using nanoHUB for research or education.

Registration links and material for prior workshops can be found at the workshop webpage: https://nanohub.org/groups/ml/handsontraining

Date/Time: February 3, 2021 / 1 PM – 2 PM EST
Title: Convenient and efficient evelopment of Machine Learning Interatomic Potentials
By: Chi Chen, Yunxing Zuo, and Shyue Ping Ong
Register here (limited seats): https://purdue.webex.com/purdue/onstage/g.php?MTID=e135394b9269645c5f55a869ad51a909e
Abstract: This tutorial introduces the concepts of machine learning interatomic potentials (ML-IAPs) in materials science, including two components of local environment atomic descriptors and machine learning models. Using the prepared dataset, you will learn how to build a prototype ML-IAP and use it to predict basic material properties for a multi-component system.

PQSEI Seminar

February 10 | Dr. Ruth Pachter of AFRL.

They still several open spots still available if you’d like to present or invite a speaker please let David Stewart (davidstewart@purdue.edu) know.

Full schedule is here: PQSEI Events Spring 2021

Indiana-focused conference, Environmental Justice, Next Steps – Environment Justice, Climate Change, and Racial Justice

March 25 – 26, 2021

The goal of this virtual conference is to create a regional action network on environmental justice by bringing together Purdue researchers, artists, scholars and stakeholders, and including peers working at research institutions across the state. Through the conference, Purdue will bring diverse scholars and leaders together to broaden the conversation on environmental justice with a focus Indiana and the Midwest by inviting researchers in areas including environmental sciences, racial & social justice, decolonization, engineering, law and environmental policy, and the visual and performing arts with the intention of starting long-term collaborations and conversations to maximize the impact of discussions moving forward.

Website: https://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/environment/resources/Env-justice.php

Birck Events and Birck News

COVID Safety at Birck

Dear Birck Research Community,

As part of the Protect Purdue initiative there continue to be unannounced audits conducted at all facilities around campus.

The Birck facility was audited on Tuesday January 26th. Our building met all the requirements of facility-related COVID protection……we have the proper signage, sanitization stations, seating spacing, etc. However the report also contained citations of improper behavior of individuals in the building. Three individuals were observed in shared offices without wearing masks, and two other people were observed having a conversation with less than 6’ spacing.

We’re asking our Birck community members to re-double your efforts to comply with all the COVID safety protocols when you’re in our facility. Please make sure to wear masks, maintain at least 6’ social distancing, and continue to frequently use the sanitization stations located throughout the building. We can all do our part to maximize safety and help keep our research ongoing in a COVID-safe environment.

Thanks to all,
Ron Reger and Steve Jurss.
*************

Birck Safety Protocols

It is very gratifying to see our research community back ‘in business’ doing leading-edge research in our center after the long pause we all experienced this Spring. But at the same time we want to remind our entire user group of the critical importance of following the COVID safety protocols while using our facilities. If an outbreak of COVID exposures should happen at Birck there is a real possibility that we may need to close the facility again. So please read and support the following…..

…..Some of our approved users are holding the doors open for others to enter the building. This may very well be a gesture of politeness to assist another, but it also can be perceived that non-approved people are entering our building with the assistance of one of our approved users. Additionally it does not allow us to have an accurate accounting of who is entering our building by evaluating card-swipe data. So everyone should swipe into Birck and not be let in by someone holding the door open.

…..Face masks are required while in Birck. Approved users have been, and continue to be, strongly encouraged to bring their own face mask for their personal use while in the facility. At the entrances we have supplied quantities of disposable face masks for emergency use, but our supplies of these disposable masks are being depleted at the high rate of 300 – 400 masks per week. This rate of use seems exceptionally high when personal masks are strongly recommended. Please only take one mask from the supply, and only when you’ve forgotten your personal mask.

….Social distancing continues to be a challenge. This is a difficult habit to develop and groups of people have been seen clustered around a tool, or having a hallway conversation, and not adhering to the 6’ spacing rule. Please continue to maintain at least 6’ spacing between yourself and the nearest other person.

Please stay vigilant in promoting and supporting these safety protocols. If we each do our part we will continue to stay open and conduct state-of-the-art research in our great facility.

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***If you have any news items (published papers, research news, awards, honors) please send to jjturner@purdue.edu so they may be included on Birck’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages***

Jaime Turner
Lead Administrative Assistant to the Director | Birck Nanotechnology Center

BRK | 1205 W State Street | West Lafayette, IN 47907

o: 765-494-3509 | m: 765-491-3064 | jjturner@purdue.edu