NRAO/GBO Update - Thu Oct 8th
The North American NRAO/GBO instruments and support systems are online, with science observations continuing. In Chile, the JAO has begun work in the Santiago offices, and a small team at the ALMA Operations Support Facility has reopened the Residencia and restored turbine power to the facility. ALMA is on the path back to full science J We had several great science results over the past few months, check out the press releases when you get a chance.
Across the Observatories we continue to deal with a handful of COVID-19 cases, essentially all arising from contact with infected family members/friends. Not encountered so far in the past seven months – anyone contracting the disease through a NRAO/GBO work situation; or unexplained cases (where the employee and/or family members do not know where the infection came from). In any given week there are typically a dozen active COVID situations where we are reviewing employee and/or family member infection situations, making decisions about quarantines, waiting for test results, contact tracing, etc. Around us, regional infection rates are generally constant or mildly increasing. Physical distancing, the use of masks at all times at our sites, and good personal hygiene remain important. Avoid large gatherings, particularly indoors, and events where mask wearing is optional or lax. As we get into cold & flu season, there are going to be many hard-to-interpret situations with direct or indirect connections back to the workplace, so we strongly suggest you and your close family members get your flu shots this season.
Funding: we have begun Fiscal Year 2021, with NSF funded via a Continuing Resolution until December 11th. I am not anticipating any issues for NRAO/GBO funding anytime this year or early next year, and we have begun work on our FY2021 activities as normal. We have several exciting initiatives underway.
There is an election coming up on November 3rd. I urge everyone to participate, and coordinate soon with your supervisors regarding time out of the office on the day, if needed. This coming election might be quite stressful, so I urge everyone to be kind and civil in the workplace around this topic.
The annual performance appraisal process is underway. Remember, we are using a light version of the process this year in response to the COVID disruptions, so it should be easier/faster to complete for everyone. Good to get started on it as soon as possible. The mandatory annual cybersecurity trainings are also underway – these are critically important, as we are using our computing systems and networking more intensively (and often remotely) these days.
The COVID situation is continuing, but we are holding our ground and getting the job done. If you need information or support, please contact your supervisor, Dept Head, ESS or Tony Beasley. Take care of yourselves, and stay safe.
