LFS Today Dec 10, 2020

Building Hours and Access

The current MCML and FNH building hours are 7AM-6PM Monday to Friday and closed on weekends. Under the current stage of resumption, weekend access is not openly available due to the lack of custodial services during these periods. Please be aware that starting Saturday, December 19, FOB access will be tied to these operating hours and unapproved access on days where the buildings are closed will be restricted.
 
If any of the personnel in existing safety plans require critical access afterhours or on weekends, the individual should:

• Email LFSRC (lfs-restart@lists.ubc.ca) right away noting day(s) required and rational for access. (The committee will review these on a case by case basis)
• If approved, the corresponding safety plan should be updated to reflect changes
• A minimum of 48 hr notice is required to authorize fob access (If you submit your request at noon on a Friday, the fob access will not be granted until Monday)

FNH Extended Building Hours (7AM-9PM M-F)

The UBC custodial group has agreed to work with us to extend the hours in the FNH building, allowing us to have greater access to the laboratories and ease the challenges around scheduling critical work during this time. In order to utilize this extra time, revisions to your current COVID safety plans will need to be made to reflect the added safety protocols requested by the custodial group. Please contact lfs-restart@lists.ubc.ca for information around how to update your COVID safety plans.
 
Although MCML is not currently included in this agreement, building operations is open to extending this arrangement to MCML if there is a need. Please send a note to LFSRC (lfs-restart@lists.ubc.ca) if you would like to see increased weekday hours in your research spaces.   

2020 Winter Term 2 Exam Requests 

Are you teaching a course in 2020 Winter 2? This includes Term 2, Term 1 & 2, and Term C courses.
 
If so, please complete our Examination Request Survey to indicate whether or not an exam will be required for your course(s) no later than 9:00 AM on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. It is important that your requests are received by this deadline to ensure your exam(s) are scheduled by UBC Scheduling Services. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the exams scheduling process and resources found online, (particularly the ‘resources’ link). If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Bonita Perko at lfs.scheduling@ubc.ca.

LFS in the News

Professor James Vercammen was interviewed on the December 8 evening edition of Global News about the rising cost of food: New report predicts huge price increases for food in 2021 (video clip). Affiliate Professor Sylvain Charlebois was also featured.

James was also a guest on the Mike Smyth radio show to discuss the report. You can listen here at the 53:51 mark.

Majid Hajibeigy (BSc Applied Biology, ’18), Founder & CEO of Canadian Pacifico Seaweeds Ltd., was featured in an article by Yahoo! News: Seaweed hand sanitizer is fighting COVID-19 in an eco-friendly way.

Random Acts of Recognition

Congratulations to Random Acts of Recognition recipient:

Christine Klaray, who has been a pillar of support for the LFS Student Services team this term as we have dealt with a number of challenges resulting from the changes to the current learning environment. She has worked hard behind the scenes in so many different spaces within LFS as each new decision or change requires a multi-pronged approach. Through it all she has been our fearless leader, coaching and supporting us along the way, making time to provide additional training, and doing it all with a smile on her face. Her guidance allowed LFS Student Services to move all of our services seamless into a virtual environment while implementing new and creative programming such as ROOTSS and Taste of LFS. Christine has been supportive to our team, empowering us to deliver solutions, while keeping the students and the Faculty top of mind. LFS Student Services is grateful for Christine’s presence even though we are physically distant from her.

To nominate a faculty member, staff or graduate student that’s been doing an outstanding job or has gone above and beyond in some way, send an email to lfs.recognition@ubc.ca and tell us why this person should be recognized. We’ll send them a $6 Starbucks gift card and acknowledge their good work in LFS Today.

10 Minutes for 10 Days Mindfulness Challenge

If you have been looking for a routine to improve your ability to manage stress, feel more connected while working from home, or start your morning with a quick exercise to improve focus, join our challenge to meditate for 10 minutes for 10 business days. 
 
What is mindfulness meditation?
Mindfulness meditation is a secular exercise where you pay attention to the present moment by focusing on breath, sound, body sensations and other focal points.

Research has shown that regularly exercising mindfulness can permanently change brain activity which can:

• Increase feelings of connection and empathy towards others
• Improve memory
• Improve ability to fall asleep more quickly
• Improve focus and attention
• Decrease emotional reactivity

When and Where?
Dates: Wednesday December 9 – Tuesday December 23, 2020 (Weekdays only)
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Location: Zoom

Who is this for?
All UBC faculty and staff at all levels of meditating experience.
 
What will you learn?
In the training you will practice different forms of facilitator guided mindfulness exercises including:

• Mindfulness meditations
• Loving-kindness meditations
• Gratitude practices
• Self-compassion excercises

Get more info and register here!