University Library Reopens With Limited Service – Borrowing and Returning Books Now Possible
The University Library and the Medical Library have reopened on Monday, May 25, for the loan and return of books and other items. Access is limited to two individuals at any one time – please note that this may lead to longer waiting times. The libraries are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.
Starting today, RWTH members can again order books and other items from the Central University Library, University Library 2, the Central Textbook Collection, the Center of Patents and Standards PNZ, and the Medical Library using the KatalogPlus online catalogue. The ordered media can then be collected from the desk on the ground floor of the Central Library and from the Medical Library.
Visitors to the University Hospital are Obligated to Wear a Face Covering
Now that it has been permitted once again to visit patients in hospitals, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen has declared that in order to protect against infection, mouth and nose coverings must be worn in the University Hospital Main Building, any outbuildings used for patient care, and Franziskus Hospital. Both patients and visitors are asked to bring their own mouth and nose coverings. Patients are only obligated to wear mouth and nose coverings outside their patient room.
All staff in patient care must wear a medical face mask when on duty. It is not permitted to wear a self-sewn or simple fabric face covering in patient care. The filter performance of these coverings is lower than that of certified industrially manufactured face coverings. High filter performance is primarily important for self-protection. Protection of others is also achieved by wearing a non-medical face mask, so that wearing such a covering in public settings makes sense.
In accordance with the decrees of the federal state of NRW, children from the age of six should also wear a face covering when leaving the patient room. Younger children typically do not tolerate wearing a face mask, and there is a lack of face coverings suitable for children. In this context, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen emphasizes that medical face masks provide sufficient self-protection and therefore, younger children can also be treated safely if the examiner/carer protects himself or herself with a medical face mask.
New RWTH Podcast: Coronavirus – Our Answers to the Pandemic
The coronavirus crisis is an extremely challenging situation – not just for every one of us, but also from the perspective of society as a whole. At RWTH it also affects various scientific disciplines and operational areas. The new RWTH podcast “Coronavirus – Our Answers to the Pandemic” will feature a multitude of experts’ opinions on these matters. Together with his team from the RWTH Chair of Sociology of Technology and Organization (STO), Professor Roger Häußling will use video conferencing to conduct interviews with the 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 in the fields of ethics, economics (including innovation research), computer science, and mechanical engineering. Professor Mathias Walter Hornef, Chair of Medical Microbiology, will kick off the German language podcast by talking with Roger Häußling about the pandemic.
University Sports Interim Program Has Successfully Started, Lousberglauf and Sports Day Have Been Cancelled
To be able to offer students sports courses again and at the same time comply with the regulations of the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance NRW, the University Sports Center, or HSZ for short, has developed a transitional sports program, which it launched it last Monday. The transitional sports program is initially still limited to contactless sports without the need for shared sports equipment. So far, the transitional program has met with a positive response. “The sports courses are quickly fully booked, and we see the high demand for sports activities in this extraordinary situation,” says Peter Lynen, Head of HSZ.
Spaced out 3.50 meters from one another, the participants can now finally train again under the tutelage of University Sports Center instructors. The distances are clearly marked on the floor for everyone to see, making it very easy to pay attention to the required minimum distances while also giving everyone enough space for their exercises. Each offer is a 60-minute self-contained unit at the beginner level. Places are allocated by booking single appointments. In this way, as many different athletes as possible can have the opportunity to participate in the courses. The water sports offers at the Wildenhof water sports facility, which can be carried out individually, will also take place again. Canoe polo training on the Blausteinsee has also been resumed, with particular attention to distance requirements. The tennis courts at the Professor-Pirlet-Straße can also be booked again.
Due to the current situation, however, the usual University Sports Center summer events have to be canceled. These include the RWTH FH Sports Day powered by Sparkasse and the Lousberglauf powered by STAWAG.
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Targeted Help for Parents at RWTH
The wider opening of childcare facilities announced today by NRW Family Minister Joachim Stamp also brings relief for parents working or studying at higher education institutions. As of June 8, the current ban on entry to daycare centers and kindergartens in North Rhine-Westphalia will be lifted. All children in NRW will then be able to return to their daycare facility or nursery – with regular but reduced services. Further information on this can be found in German at: https://www.mkffi.nrw/pressemitteilung/oeffnung-der-kindertagesbetreuung-im-eingeschraenkten-regelbetrieb
To provide additional support to parents working at RWTH Aachen University and to enable them to keep specific urgent business appointments, the university’s Family Service has now expanded their short-term childcare services typically offered during university events. It now includes childcare for parents to take part in online events, telephone or video conferences, meetings, job interviews, and the like. Childcare is provided by babysitters from the Family Service’s babysitting network and takes place in the parents’ home.
The offer is aimed at employees of RWTH Aachen University who cannot otherwise ensure proper childcare during the online event and whose presence is urgently needed.
Parents in need of these services are asked to send an email to familienservice@rwth-aachen.de or contact RWTH by phone at 80-93579 well in advance of the event.
Further information on childcare during university events can be found at:
Chair of Technology and Organization Conducts Survey on Work from Home Arrangements
How do you experience working from home? The Chair of Technology and Organization at RWTH’s Institute of Sociology has launched a survey on work from home arrangements, including the design of workspaces, work routines, and the use of digital tools. The survey is confidential and the results are made anonymous so that no individual can be identified. Please note that the questionnaire is available in German only.
DFG Funding for Research Projects
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is now providing additional funding for its funding projects affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions on public life. The Joint Committee of the largest research funding organization and central self-governing body for science in Germany has now approved a package of measures at the proposal of the DFG’s Executive Committee. The DFG announced this today. These measures will now allow researchers to apply for additional staff and material resources through numerous funding programs to continue and complete research work that cannot be carried out as planned. The funding has a volume of at least 175 million euros, to which the program allowance of 22 percent for indirect project costs, which is standard for DFG funding, is added, according to a statement.
The funding that has now been approved is initially intended for projects whose funding has ended or will end between April 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, and which were unable to continue their work during this period due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Moments of a Special Semester
The online semester has provided us with opportunities for capturing unusual or unexpected moments in a short film clip:
University Sports Center’s Interim Program Starts Today
Today, May 18, the University Sports Center will resume operation and launch its limited outdoor program. Due to the special situation, it is not possible to register for an entire course – only individual sessions can be booked. Given the limited capacities, this makes sure that many different students can participate in the courses. Booking of a session is possible up to 24 hours in advance. For all locations, special entry and exit procedures are in place. All sports facilities that are not part of the program remain closed; for these facilities, the ban on entry continues to apply. Please note that changing rooms and showers remain closed. Restrooms are accessible to a limited extent only.
Forther information: University Sports Center
University Archives Accessible Only for Urgent Research Projects
The University Archives will continue to be available for use in urgent cases only, for example, research projects that cannot be postponed. The archives management would like to point out that documents can be made available as digital copies. If the archive must be used on site, this is only possible by appointment. Only one person can be present for research in the archives at a time, the usual minimum distance rules apply, and a mouth and nose covering must be worn. Documents to be viewed are made available in a separate room.