With the sanitary restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the last few months have been difficult. The entire INRS community has been able to adapt and continue its research and teaching work.
Here are some of the actions taken by INRS or members of its community in response to the pandemic.
Student Member Emergency Fund
Created at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Student Member Emergency Fund has been established in March 2020 by the INRS Foundation. This was the Foundation’s first solicitation campaign and it worked closely with the entire INRS community to generate a rapid and remarkable outpouring of solidarity. The enthusiastic response of the community helped raise over $42,000.
Mentoring program to break student isolation
In August 2020, Academic and Student Life Services implemented a peer mentoring program available to all new student members, even those outside of the province of Quebec. The goal of this program is to help them integrate into the university community. It has also helped break the isolation caused by the health rules related to the pandemic.
Research grant program
In October 2020, INRS announced the creation of an internal financial support program for research projects on COVID-19. Five innovative projects were selected, focusing on the treatment, detection, and rapid diagnostic testing of this virus, its impact on communities and society at large, and the transformations that result.
Inauguration of the NC3 containment laboratory
In March 2021, INRS inaugurated its new containment level 3 (NC3) laboratory. The CL3 now allows research teams to study under safe conditions pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, West Nile virus, and the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. This state-of-the-art laboratory is directed by Professor Laurent Chatel-Chaix.
COVID-19: The Unpredictable Enemy
The COVID-19 pandemic took its toll, and quarantine affected all members of the Quebec society. Another scourge followed closely behind: misinformation. Student members and faculty at INRS quickly became involved in the fight against fake news, conspiracy theories and improvised remedies. Our feature COVID-19: The Unpredictable Enemy is a testament to this.
Outreach activities of Alain Lamarre, COVID-19 media expert
The quality of Alain Lamarre’s research and his ability to explain it to different audiences have made him an expert to whom media representatives have turned. Since March 2020, Alain Lamarre has conducted more than 160 interviews, for a total of 797 media mentions.
Agile virtual shift
With the quarantine, the INRS community quickly adapted to teaching and working remotely, with thousands of meetings on Zoom. Convocation, open house day, INRS Foundation Philanthropy Week, Harassment, Discrimination and Incivility (HDI), Awareness Week and the annual Christmas party all took place, despite the difficult circumstances.
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Report to the Community 2020-2021