| January 16 email message from Dean Kliger |
A message to the Natural Sciences community:
By now you know of Friday's devastating fire to the Sinsheimer Labs building. Professor
Manny Ares experienced the destruction of not only his research lab but more than
a decade of work by him and his research team. Other Sinsheimer faculty and researchers
are just beginning to estimate the damage to their labs and their work. Though these
losses are great, we can all be very grateful that no one was injured.
The next few weeks will be challenging in both practical and emotional ways. Staff
and faculty have been displaced, smoke and water damage in the building is widespread,
and the extent of structural damage is still being assessed. We will not be doing
business as usual for some time.
Various communication mechanisms are being established to inform faculty, staff,
and students about building access, alternate work locations, etc. The campus information
number, 459-INFO, has general information about building access. More detailed information
for building occupants is available at 459-4440, and a message board is being updated
regularly outside the main entrance to Baskin Engineering Building. If you are not
receiving information you need, please feel free to contact my office at 459-2931
for direction.
I want to express my sincere appreciation to the many campus and community individuals
and agencies that are supporting the division. First and foremost, both campus and
local Fire Department personnel have worked tirelessly to suppress the fire, secure
the building, and investigate the cause of the fire. The Environmental Health and
Safety staff and Natural Sciences Facilities staff have worked nearly round the clock
since last Friday to assess health and safety risks, ensure continuation of research
in progress, and provide limited but safe access to the building to reclaim the most
critical work and equipment. The campus's Risk Manager is providing expert guidance
in the process of estimating our losses. Staff in the Purchasing Department have
helped us meet our emergency needs, and the Police and Transportation and Parking
personnel have provided a secure perimeter to the fire scene. Other administrators
and staff have pitched in to help in many other ways.
I will appreciate your compassion for and patience with one another while we work
to restore order to our business and scholarly lives.
Sincerely,
David S. Kliger, Dean
Division of Natural Sciences