“Stored data possibly not in danger”
On Monday afternoon, Dean Kees Storm and Managing Director Nicole Fouchier of Applied Physics and Science Education convened all students and staff (including of Electrical Engineering) to update them on the state of affairs, the communication channels, and access to the labs. “No data is in danger, as far as we know now.”
“It’s safe to use email and Teams, but you mustn’t assume your message will actually be received. That’s why you should use multiple channels, such as WhatsApp or – preferably – Signal,” Kees Storm says to a packed-out lecture hall in Flux. He had started the meeting with an important theme: the information flow (see main photo).
“There is a lot of uncertainty now and people have many questions. For the sake of efficiency, it’s important that we respect the information flows and don’t skip any steps in the corresponding hierarchy.” Unless you see something suspicious in a lab, in which case it’s better not to wait until the most suitable person is available. Anyone – in an official capacity – who is approached by the press, who are out in full force on the campus today, is requested to refer to spokesperson Ivo Jongsma.
Storm puts the minds of those present at ease when it comes to stored data. “It will be available when we can access the systems again. There’s no way of making sure this is the case, but that’s what we’re currently expecting.”
Campus is open
Intranet may be closed, but the campus isn’t. The labs in Flux, Spectrum, Cascade, and Qbit are open, just like the cafeteria in Atlas, the parking lots, and the SSC. “It’s business as usual”, says the dean. “It’s safe to use the labs, but if you see anything strange we do ask you to report it asap. And you should also let us know if there are any things you expected to work but aren’t actually working.”
On Tuesday, there’s no teaching at TU/e. “There’s no LIS support; those employees are very busy right now. But teachers who still know how chalk and a chalkboard work are also requested not to teach. This is to prevent unfairness towards students who are unable to attend.”
Research
Scientists who collaborate with industrial partners don’t need to inform them today yet. “And if you do receive questions from companies, you can refer them to the TU/e website.”
Those facing deadlines for PhD defenses or applications for grants from NWO or ERC should contact the dean.
The meeting goes on for as long as necessary and Storm and Fouchier answer the questions to the best of their ability. "Keep an eye on the updates on the website," Storm advises in closing.
Discussion