I thought you might enjoy reading the latest op-ed from President Daniels. Mike
From: Ladisch, Michael R.
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2020 6:25 PM
To: lorre-list@ecn.purdue.edu
Cc: Carie, Carla S. <carie@purdue.edu>; Griffith, Amanda S <asgriffi@purdue.edu>
Subject: RE: Info Regarding Potter Engineering Center
Dear LORRE students, faculty and staff:
I know you have received communications and notices regarding the unprecedented changes and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to date information may be found at the website:
https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2020/Q1/need-to-know-info-about-covid-2019.html .
This e-mail is to address your concerns and questions regarding LORRE operations.
Please follow the requests:
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Stay home if you are sick.
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Work remotely if you can.
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Practice safe social distancing if you must be on campus.
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Step up to assist in areas that may be experiencing added responsibilities and stress.
CDC Guidelines and Social Distancing.
While Purdue is remaining open, CDC guidelines for social distancing are in effect. I ask that our staff and researchers work at home on data analysis, writing projects, literature reviews, online learning, coding,
manuscript / prelim / thesis preparation, all of which are part of the research process and can be done using vpn and remote access to ECN. Meetings will be conducted through WebEx or phone. If a meeting in person is required, social distancing of 6 feet
will be observed. Freqeunt updates are at https://www.purdue.edu/research/covid-19/ .
Undergraduate students: If you are an undergraduate student in our laboratory, I hope you have heard that all classes have moved
to online instruction for the remainder of the semester starting Monday March 23; in-person commencement has been canceled; and ABE advising practices have changed (see e-mail from Nate Engelberth). I ask that our undergraduate students not come to
the laboratory when they return next week. Please call me if you have questions.
Research Activities and LORRE Graduate Students / Staff.
If graduate students and staff feel it is essential to carry out experiments for thier research, please speak to me first before coming into the laboratory. If you do come
in, practice social distancing of 6 feet between adjacent people per CDC guidelines. Given the manner in which our research is carried out, and the footprint of the instruments that we use, this would mean limiting researchers to one per laboratory area.
A summary of guidelines, summarized by the Chemistry Department and recommended by Dr. Mayer, EVPRP, are attached for your reference. Otherwise, everyone should work from home, if possible.
Staggered shifts. If several people need to work on different experiments in close proximity, please talk with me first. I will
arrange for staggered shifts (either day or evening) to accommodate this need. Any experiments that are initiated must be capable of being shut-down on short notice. (see attached memo from Dr. Theresa Mayer, EVPRP).
LORRE Operations. Staff who will serve as a skeleton crew to maintain and check on instruments, monitor the laboratory, and keep
LORRE operations open, have been identified to Nate Mosier (last week) as myself, Eduardo, Antonio, Lindsey, and Carla. For all LORRE staff and students - we will cancel the weekly LORRE seminar through April 10, and then reassess the situation at that time.
Maintenance requests. will be handled in the usual way through Phil Qualio (765 496 9757,
philq@purdue.edu; or through the Purdue fix-it website:
www.purdue.edu/fix-it ). After hours please contact the Purdue University Police non-emergency number (765) 49-48221.
Potter Access. The outside doors to Potter will be locked at all times starting tonight (Friday, March 20) This follows the practice
of other buildings on campus. Only those with a key may enter. During the day the loading dock entry may be open since it is handicap accessible. Mail and package delivery to POTR will cease, also following campus policy. Packages (UPS) may be retrieved
only from MMDC. Phil, the building deputy, has alerted the key safety contacts in POTR regarding these actions.
I look forward to working with all of you and keeping in touch while achieving our goals while using different means and working together in a different manner. Thank you for bringing
such a strong and constructive team spirit to LORRE and for your understanding of the magnitude of this crisis.
Sincerely,
Mike
Michael R. Ladisch
Distinguished Professor and Director
Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
Purdue University
Potter Engineering Center
500 Central Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2022
Phone: (765) 494-7022
Fax: (765) 494-7023
E-mail: ladisch@purdue.edu
