April 14 - 1960s flashback; UCI COVID update; Alaskan smog study
Section 1
Anteater Time Machine: In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of Title IX this June, we flash back to the late 1960s, when students Mary Schiavone, Carol Hyland and Gail Crider tried out to be UCI cheerleaders, because the campus had few options for women athletes. When the school instead chose an all-male squad, the women marched into the basketball coach’s office to ask if there was another way they could help. See what happened next in this engaging and colorful story by Assistant Athletic Director Stacey King, “Something About Mary.” Scroll down to see a current photo of Schiavone and King.
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
COVID-19 on campus: Where things stand
David Souleles, director of UCI’s COVID-19 Response Team, sent an update today on current trends and the outlook ahead. Among the takeaways:
- Although cases have edged up this quarter, they remain well below January surge levels.
- The BA.2 variant is more transmissible, but county hospitalization rates are low.
- Indoor masking is still highly recommended.
- Campus officials are closely tracking the situation via the daily symptom checker, free campus testing and wastewater monitoring.
- UCI’s high levels of vaccination and boosters add a further level of protection.
UCI scientists encounter moose and icy weather during their study of Alaskan air pollution. Photo by Sukriti Kapur
UCI scientists study Alaskan smog
Braving frigid weather and the occasional moose, UCI chemists recently set up shop in the city of Fairbanks, Alaska, which has some of the worst air in the nation. The chemistry behind winter-time pollution hasn’t been studied much, said Sukriti Kapur, a Ph.D. student. The team hopes its analysis will boost efforts to understand and curb the city’s smog.
Faster saliva virus test developed by UCI team
UCI researchers devised a simplified, faster method to detect genetic material, including viral RNA. Their findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
UCI environmental inventions highlighted
Glass-bubble paint that deflects heat, a solar-powered desalination device and flood prediction software are three technologies spotlighted in UCI Beall Applied Innovation’s latest magazine.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
CDC extends mask mandate on planes, transit until May 3
The new expiration date will enable the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assess whether the latest coronavirus subvariant is going to become a “ripple or a wave,” a White House official said. The CDC will then determine whether the mandate should be extended further. Airlines, hotels and others have said the mask rule is no longer necessary.
California drops quarantines for asymptomatic people exposed to virus
The state is no longer recommending a five-day quarantine period for people who are exposed to the coronavirus but remain asymptomatic.
2021 Health FSA claims due Friday
If you take advantage of UC's Flexible Spending Accounts, take note: The deadline to file 2021 Health FSA claims is this Friday, April 15. Didn't use all your money? Don't worry. Most funds carry over to 2022. And, there's good news for caregivers — the deadline to file 2021 Dependent Care claims has been extended through Dec. 31. Get the full scoop at UCnet.
EVENTS
Reimagining UCI in a Climate-Changed World
Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (sponsored by UCI Climate Alliance)
Living & Dying on the Streets of OC: Discussing the Present & Future for People That Do Not Have Housing
Monday, noon (sponsored by UCI Law)
Beyond Resilience: Self-Forgiveness as a Mitigator of Psychological Distress Among Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence
Monday, noon (sponsored by UCI Initiative to End Family Violence)
Visions: a dialogue between the scientist and the artist
Monday, 4 p.m. (sponsored by UCI Illuminations)
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.
Man who survived propane tank explosion reunites with staff at OC burn center who saved his life
KABC (video), April 13
Cited: UCI Health Regional Burn Center and Dr. Theresa Chin
How to Find a Mental Health App That Works for You
The New York Times, April 13
Cited: Stephen Schueller, clinical psychologist and associate professor, and One Mind PsyberGuide, a UCI-affiliated project
UC Irvine Professor Pens Biography of First Woman of Color in Congress
Orange Coast, April 13
Cited: Judy Tzu-Chun Wu, professor of Asian American studies
#UCICONNECTED
Assistant Athletic Director Stacey King, left, and alumna Mary Schiavone from “Something About Mary,” one in a series of stories tied to the upcoming 50th anniversary of Title IX.
#UCIconnected spotlights student, alumni, faculty and staff photos, essays, shoutouts, hobbies, artwork, unusual office decorations, activities and more. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.