Feb. 7 - Boostered Anteaters, vetting N95 masks
Section 1
Today’s reflection: An Anteater walking along Ring Road is reflected in NatSci II windows. Photo by Steve Zylius / UCI
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
How are KN95 face covering brands vetted?
KN95 brands and models are crosschecked against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists of counterfeit respirators. The two brands being distributed by UCI do not appear on the CDC list of counterfeit respirators. See the updated COVID-19 FAQs for more details.
More Anteaters are getting the booster
According to the latest data on booster compliance, the percentage of people campuswide who have received the COVID-19 booster is at 86%. The overall enterprise is at 90.60%. Student compliance for those who are eligible for boosters is at 82%. If you would like to be part of this positive trend, make a reservation for one of February’s free booster vaccine clinics.
Audrey Steele Burnand estate gifts $57.75 million to UCI
The estate of Audrey Steele Burnand, a well-known philanthropist who lived in Newport Beach, has gifted $57.75 million to fund the creation of a new campus-wide center that will pursue research into the causes and treatment of depression and also support the UCI-managed Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center. The $55 million+ portion for depression research is believed to be the largest philanthropic donation to a U.S. university to support research focused solely on the mental health disorder.
BioSci highlights Black scholars and hosts anti-racism documentary
Throughout Black History Month, the BioSci Inclusive Excellence page is spotlighting Black scholars in the scientific community who are currently contributing to discoveries and knowledge creation in the life sciences, as well as historical figures with unforgettable legacies. BioSci also hosts a screening of anti-racist educator and author Tim Wise’s “White Like Me” with a moderated discussion afterward. RSVP to receive the Zoom link to the Feb. 23 presentation at 6 p.m.
Trailblazing heart patient gets more good news
Eighteen months after Elizabeth Vayssie became the first person in Orange County to receive a left ventricular assist device, a life-saving surgery at UCI Health to pump blood through her body in place of her failing heart, she was told a heart had been located for her. “My first thought was disbelief,” says the 59-year-old human resources professional. “I wasn’t expecting a call that soon because I’m a difficult match.”
Applications accepted for UCI Ethics Center’s Summer Mentoring Program
Each summer, the center selects a few promising students for a mentoring program. Applications for the 2022 program, which runs June 27 through July 22, are now being accepted from qualified college and high school students from around the world.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
CDC: Masks lower COVID-19 risk in indoor public settings and type of mask matters
Because most studies on the effectiveness of well-fitting masks and respirators were conducted in laboratory conditions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention questioned California residents who were randomly selected and tested for infection between Feb. 18-21. The study concludes that people who wore masks in indoor public settings tested negatively more than the maskless. The best outcomes were enjoyed by those who wore their masks longer and more often inside, and N95/KN95 respirators were most effective, followed by surgical masks and cloth masks.
Why are Americans so slow to get booster shots?
The United States has a vaccination problem. And it is not just about the relatively large share of Americans who have refused to get a shot. The U.S. also trails many other countries in the share of vaccinated people who have received a booster.
EVENTS
Master of Science in Business Analytics information session
Wednesday, 8 a.m. (sponsored by Paul Merage School of Business)
Journal to Wellness: Love Letter to Yourself
Wednesday, 10 a.m. (sponsored by Center for Student Wellness & Health Promotion)
It Might Be a Course. What If It is a Job Aid Instead?
Wednesday, 11 a.m. (sponsored by Division of Continuing Education)
Wednesday Wellness Walk: Arboretum & Marsh Land
Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. (sponsored by Center for Student Wellness & Health Promotion)
Beyond Ring Road: Career Prep Leading Up to Graduation
Wednesday, noon (sponsored by Division of Career Pathways)
California Community College Internship Program information session
Wednesday, 1 p.m. (sponsored by Graduate Division)
Constitutions in Chinese Politics and Society
Wednesday, 1 p.m. (sponsored by School of Social Sciences)
Confronting American Health Disparities: Race, Class and Maternal Mortality in the United States
Wednesday, 5 p.m. (sponsored by School of Law)
Master of Professional Accountancy Program information session
Wednesday, 5 p.m. (sponsored by Paul Merage School of Business)
Virtual Painting Night
Wednesday, 5 p.m. (sponsored by Associated Students UCI)
“Hella Black Mexican:” A Conversation with Creator Ehcrama Marche
Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. (sponsored by Latinx Resource Center)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
Read This Before You Get Excited About Weed Preventing COVID
HuffPost, Feb. 7
Cited: Daniele Piomelli, Distinguished Professor of anatomy & neurobiology and director, Center for the Study of Cannabis
Jeffrey Wasserstrom on Censorship and Translated Literature in China
Literary Hub (audio), Feb. 7
Guest: Jeffrey Wasserstrom, Chancellor’s Professor of history
Quantum Complexity Tamed by Machine Learning
Quanta Magazine, Feb. 7
Cited: Kieron Burke, Distinguished Professor of chemistry