Hello Friends, On this dreary day a few words about COVID across the university. The good news is that the omicron wave has passed and positive testing rates are now under 2% across the University. Our campus continues to have a remarkable safety record with respect to viral transmission. The current university risk level is yellow, or LOW. The deadline to upload your booster information has been extended to February 28th. Indoor masking is still required (except in private offices or when eating or lecturing and one is able to maintain a 6-foot distance). On February 7, 2022, social gatherings will be allowed with no capacity restrictions.
Please keep in mind that we are still in a hybrid work mode, similar to last fall. This is designed to allow flexibility for remote work for employees that are not student-facing and whose jobs can be carried out remotely. This flexibility is especially important for parents of young children and others dealing with the ongoing challenges of the pandemic on everyday life and family health. However, please note that the health risk of working on campus is very low and employees whose jobs require them to be on campus are expected to be here. Our heroes from facilities have been on campus since the beginning of the pandemic. Other groups in admin have defined schedules to keep occupancy rates low in shared offices while providing the flexibility mentioned above. Leadership has worked with groups to try to ensure uniformity in expectations across divisions and 100% remote work is not the norm or expectation. If you think these protocols are not being applied fairly and equitably, please reach out to the Directorate so we can gently investigate and intervene if necessary.
On the flip side, I walked down a major building corridor last week where, with the exception of one employee who doesn’t like working from home, every single office suite was dark and locked. I could not help but feel sympathy for this lone ranger—they should not be in that position. I’ll note that it has also been conveyed to me how much our campus lab managers (with limited ability to work remotely) appreciated it when people started spending more time on campus. So—managers, advisors, members of the community—please be thoughtful in evaluating your work patterns versus actual health risks and recognize the ripple effects your choices have across our currently-not-so-vibrant campus (and cafeteria struggling to survive).
For more information, please consider joining the next Campus Update Forum for faculty, researchers and staff on Tuesday, Feb. 8, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. via Zoom. You will get up-to-date information on COVID-19, plans for Spring 2022, and the campus work environment. Register here.
I’ll end with a big shout-out to Bar Oryan who today successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis on “Long-term and short-term processes affecting inelastic deformation above subduction zone interfaces”. Nice job Bar! Post-graduation, Bar will be starting a postdoctoral position at École Normale Supérieure in Paris. Paris in the spring!
Have a peaceful weekend. Mo
LAMONT IN THE MEDIA:
FEATURED NEWS
Researcher floats pairing offshore wind with carbon removal tech
Axios
January 31, 2022
The big picture: Marine geophysicist David Goldberg, writing in The Conversation, says co-locating direct air capture (DAC) systems with offshore wind would ensure the systems are powered by clean energy. The captured CO2 could be piped directly into subsea geologic storage, "reducing the need for extensive pipeline systems," which also reduces the environmental impact.
Curl up with these 7 thought provoking stories
The Washington Post
January 28, 2022
At a certain threshold of heat and humidity, “it’s no longer possible to be able to sweat fast enough to prevent overheating,” said Radley Horton, a professor at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
What Can Be Learned From the Tonga Volcano?
CGTN
January 27, 2022
Interview with Lamont volcanologist Einat Lev.
Film Reveals Arctic Changes Through Indigenous Knowledge
Daily News-Miner
Jan 27, 2022
Film includes Lamont scientist Chris Zappa.
Five Columbia Faculty Named AAAS Fellows
Columbia News
January 26, 2022
“Columbia's 2021 AAAS Fellows are recognized for their contributions to teaching and research.”
Offshore wind farms could bank carbon dioxide on slow days
Popular Science
January 25, 2022
Article by Lamont deputy director and geophysicist David Goldberg.
Article by Lamont deputy director and geophysicist David Goldberg.
The Conversation
January 25, 2022
Article by Lamont deputy director and geophysicist David Goldberg.
BLOGS
Return of the R/V Pelican to Ocho Rios, Jamaica
February 2, 2022
By Cecilia McHugh
“The expedition discovered stresses along an underwater plate boundary and a record of historic and pre-historic earthquakes, which will shed light on the geohazard risks for Jamaica and Haiti.”
How Climate Change Will Affect Plants
January 27, 2022
By Renee Cho
“While elevated levels of CO2 can help plants grow, the impacts of climate change mean it’s not all good news for the plant world.”
Offshore Wind Farms Could Capture Carbon From Air and Store It
By David Goldberg
January 28, 2022
“When the wind can produce more power than is needed, that unused power could be used to remove carbon from the air and lock it away.”