Decarbonization study; RSV, flu and COVID reminders

Jan. 16, 2024

Fallen leaves float on the Maya Lin fountain. (Photo: Steve Zylius/UCI)

UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

Sustainability achievements and tips from UCI

UCI begins decarbonization study

Aiming to cut UCI’s emissions 90% by 2045, the university has embarked on a yearlong study to determine the best path toward decarbonization. Funded by the UC Office of the President, the study is being led by Facilities Management, which is working with a consulting engineering firm, Black & Veatch, and an advisory group of UCI staff, faculty and students to provide recommendations to campus leaders and UC’s Global Climate Leadership Council.

Cyber-hackers target Discord groups

UCI Information Security has become aware of hacking and malicious activities targeting Discord servers and accounts used by UCI students and instructors. Although the university doesn’t directly oversee these Discord servers or their account activities and security settings, members of our community who host Discord channels are advised to take precautionary measures against external attacks. Students and instructors requiring cybersecurity support can report incidents or seek assistance by contacting UCI Information Security at security@uci.edu or 949-824-2222.

Respiratory infection reminders

COVID-19, flu and RSV continue to circulate in the area at high levels. Some reminders:

Employees are encouraged to stay home when ill to help reduce the spread of infections.
Employees, including student employees, are strongly encouraged to report cases of COVID-19 to Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services at contacttracing@uci.edu or 949-824-2300. CTVNS will follow up with a case investigation and employee close contact notifications.
Free COVID-19 antigen tests continue to be available to employees at various locations on campus.
Free masks and N-95 respirators are also available to employees at various locations.

UC NEWS

UCI staff who inspired in 2023

Last week, UCNet published a list of University of California staff whose accomplishments inspired their colleagues last year, and several UCI employees made the cut. They were: Jennifer Wilkens, director of special projects and executive assistant to the dean, Samueli School of Engineering, and project manager, teamMADE; Stefani Rios, business coordinator, ANTrepreneur Center; Nicole Carpenter, research librarian for Social Sciences; Nicole Arnold, research librarian for Student Success and Humanities; Carrie Cullen, research librarian for Physical Sciences; and David Naimie, director of external relations.

#IamUCI

Scholar joins investigation of veteran health and atomic weapons

David Richardson, a professor of environmental & occupational health and associate dean of research for UCI’s Program in Public Health, has been selected to join a committee assessing how the Manhattan Project affected veteran health. The committee was created by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine to better understand the harm caused by exposures during the U.S. government’s World War II effort to build an atom bomb. As an internationally recognized researcher and expert in occupational health, Richardson is poised to provide integral expertise to the committee’s charge of uncovering the connection between exposures from the Manhattan Project and adverse health outcomes.

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