[BNC-all] Birck Center operation in light of COVID-19

[Shakouri, Ali]

Dear Birck Research Community,

Birck center is open and operates under normal conditions. Since the situation is rapidly evolving, we will communicate if there are any updates from EVPRP and university administration. Here is a good resource about the latest information at Purdue:
https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2020/Q1/need-to-know-info-about-covid-2019.html

As you know there are extraordinary measures being taken on a worldwide basis to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus. A beneficial initiative is called social distancing which involves limiting interaction with other people in crowd situations. This is being deployed in countless ways.  Another major initiative is to frequently sanitize one’s hands and common surfaces where others may frequently touch. This virus can live on surfaces for several days.

At Purdue all classes are going online after spring break (at least until early April), university travel is being suspended, visitor events to campus and gathering of more than 50 people are being cancelled. These actions are aimed at social distancing. Purdue’s research operations will continue as of now.

At the Birck Nanotechnology Center we are implementing the following measures for sanitization and social distancing:

  *   Additional hand sanitizer is being placed at various locations throughout the facility.  Please avail yourselves of this often.
  *   A 2% hydrogen peroxide solution, as used in the healthcare industry for sanitization, is being placed in spray bottles in each lab.  A procedure will accompany these but essentially one can spray a surface before touching or working and wipe them clean with a lab wipe one minute after spraying.
  *   Be aware of social distancing and strive to keep couple of feet of separation between yourself and others with whom you are interacting.
  *   Cleanroom supplies (shoe covers, veils, bouffant caps) are becoming in short supply due to hospitals stock-piling, so plan to reuse and ration those items as much as possible.
  *   It is highly recommended to wash your hands before entering the labs or cleanroom.
  *   The Birck custodians are wiping door handles and other common surfaces with disinfectant on a more frequent basis.
  *   We’re working with Purdue purchasing and our bulk gas vendors to finalize their pandemic procedures for our house process gases.
  *   Our “Essential Personnel” list has been updated in the event that additional, more extreme measures are taken in the future, including closing of the facility.

Please let Ron, Mark, Stephen, Sunil or I know if you have any questions or comments.

Best regards,
Ali


Ali Shakouri
Mary Jo and Robert L. Kirk Director
Professor of  Electrical and Computer Engineering
Birck Nanotechnology Center, Room 1027
Purdue University
1205 West State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2057
(765) 496-6105; Fax: (765) 496-8299
shakouri at purdue.edu<mailto:shakouri at purdue.edu>

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