Kategorie: ‘Allgemein’
New Podcast Episode: Answers From Research
In the eigth episode of the RWTH podcast series, Coronavirus – Our Answers to the Pandemic, Professor Thomas Gries, Head of Institut für Textiltechnik at RWTH, speaks about the consequences for research and the project situation at research institutes, particularly related to textile technology. Dr. Jacqueline Lemm from the RWTH Chair of Sociology of Technology and Organisation, or STO for short, conducted the interview via a video conferencing system.
The podcast series features RWTH staff responsible for the digitalization of teaching, virologists and physicians at the University Hospital, the Rectorate of RWTH, the AStA Students’ Committee, political scientists as well as experts from the fields of ethics, economics (including innovation research), computer science, and mechanical engineering.
Listen to the latest espisode in German here.
New Rules for Individuals Returning From Risk Areas to Take Exams
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia recently announced new regulations for individuals entering the state from risk areas. Please note that the generally known regulations for a two-week quarantine order and free testing possibility now also applies to students coming from a risk area. The only exception to this rule applies to students entering the state from a risk area only to take an examination and who will leave again within 72 hours of their arrival.
If students have any questions regarding this regulation, they should contact their responsible health department. For students living in the Städteregion Aachen, this is the Aachen Health Department (infektionsschutz@staedteregion-aachen.de).
Aachen Engineering Award Ceremony Postponed to 2021
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, RWTH Aachen University and the City of Aachen, in consultation with the Advisory Board of the Aachen Engineering Award, agreed to postpone the award ceremony to 2021. A specific date will be set at a later date. “We would have liked to have honored Sebastian Thrun for his extraordinary influence on technology in a ceremony in the coronation hall of the city hall in a few weeks‘ time. In light of the current conditions, however, we do not want to take any risks and inadvertently harm the participants,” explained the Lord Mayor of Aachen, Marcel Philipp. “We look forward to honoring Sebastian Thrun in the coming year and then allowing as many people as possible to meet this prizewinner in person under secure conditions,” emphasizes Professor Ulrich Rüdiger, Rector of RWTH Aachen University.
Please read the complete press release here.
Please Adhere to the Mask Obligation From August 10!
University management would once again like to point out that, due to the current sitation, it is compulsory to wear a mouth and nose cover in the corridors of all RWTH buildings from August 10. You can find all further information about the written and e-exams here.
Dining Hall Survey
The Department of Sustainability of AStA – Students’ Committee at RWTH, in cooperation with Studierendenwerk Aachen, has launched a survey to find out which dining hall offers are used by students, with the aim of making dining halls more sustainable. The survey consists of twelve questions and takes no longer than 90 seconds to complete. Students can make their own suggestions in the open text fields.
Go to the survey.
Regulations for Written and E-exams
In light of current developments, the Crisis Management Team has decided to enforce a requirement to wear a mouth and nose covering in the corridors of RWTH from August 10. In written exams, candidates can take off their mouth and nose covering when they are at their exam desk, as long as the safety distance of 1.5 m is maintained there. The covering does not have to be worn during the exam. If an exam participant is declared to be infected with COVID-19, all participants and supervisors will be informed and considered category II contact persons according to the definition by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). In such cases, no quarantine order will be enforced.
SARS-CoV-2 Testing for Individuals From Risk Areas
According to the current Corona Entry Regulation North Rhine-Westphalia (CoronaEinrVO), individuals entering NRW or those returning to the state from a risk area (apart from a few regulated exceptions, such as students entering the state to take or prepare for exams related to their training or studies) have to undergo a 14-day quarantine at home and contact the local public health department immediately. Only individuals who can present a negative test result may be exempted from this quarantine order.
At the instigation of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs (MAGS), centers for testing SARS-CoV-2 have been set up at airports in Dusseldorf, Cologne/Bonn, Dortmund, and Münster/Osnabrück.
Support and Advice on Career and Job Entry Questions Continues Online
With their career@home series, the RWTH Career Center continues to supports students, even during the coronavirus situation. The Career Center Team has already offered more than 80 online workshops this summer semester. From one-day seminars on career planning or networking to company presentations with Q&A sessions and job application training, all the offerings that are usually held in person have now been turned into virutal events. Due to the great response, the range of services is being continuously expanded. In August, for example, workshops on personality and career as well as on the application process will be offered.
New Quarantine Provisions for Students
The Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has recently adjusted its legal provisions, lifting the quarantine measures for students traveling from risk areas to NRW in order to complete or prepare for their exams as part of their studies or for other vocational purposes.
For these reasons, from Tuesday, July 21, 2020, RWTH will lift the one-week entry ban from the University imposed on students traveling to Aachen from risk areas.
As a result, such students may participate in exams, courses, etc.
The provision that students with respiratory symptoms are not allowed in the buildings of RWTH (unless they have been cleared by a doctor, e.g. confirmed as having a cold) will remain in place.
RWTH Develops Novel Ventilator
The PV1000, a simple and robust solution for use in ICUs, is currently being developed at RWTH. Launched by several RWTH departments and institutes, the project has reached an important milestone: the device’s graphical user interface will now be tested by experts in hospitals throughout Germany.
Shocked by the lack of ventilation beds in many countries at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, scientists at RWTH Aachen University have been developing an emergency ventilator since April. The “People’s Ventilator PV1000” is designed to fill the gap in situations where conventional ventilators are in short supply. It is a simple and robust device that is suitable for use in intensive care units for several weeks.
Initiated by the Chair of Medical Information Technology (MedIT), the Institute of Automotive Engineering, and the Chair of Embedded Software, the project now involves 30 volunteer researchers headed by Professor Steffen Leonhardt. The project receives support from several RWTH institutions as well as companies in the region.