[Exports_all] EXPORTS Status

Wed Mar 11 07:38:58 PDT 2020

Dear All,

I would like to echo Uta's concerns.  I do not feel comfortable bringing my
team to a foreign port without any additional information on contingency
planning should a science/crew member be diagnosed with COVID-19. What are
the plans in the event that infection occurs?  Will testing be available?
What about quarantine not only on the ship, but after we are allowed to
dock (if at all).  Given the rapid spread of the virus. the cancellation of
large gatherings and lock down on travel, I would like to know where my
team will be housed for the duration should we not be allowed back into the
United States (or other destination) simply because we are on foreign
soil.  My University is considering additional travel restrictions - just
learned today that we will be shutting down for an additional week of
spring break.  I am unsure about whether a waiver can be obtained, or if we
would be covered by required travel insurance.

At the same time, I am also worried about leaving my family for such a
period given the ongoing uncertainties in school/work closures and other
quarantines.  It's one thing to be gone and to have things out of your
control happen (remember the Hurricane?), it's another to purposefully
leave when so much is unknown.

If the Discovery and Sarmiento are cancelled, this would leave us with just
the Atlantis.  That would be hugely disappointing as the main goal of
EXPORTS was the multiple ship operations with diverse sampling.  The most
responsible thing to do at this point would be to delay the entire mission
for a year.  Yes - I know this means money and delays in research (our
students!), but I would certainly prefer to reduce unneeded risk.

My 2 cents,

Claudia

---
Dr. Claudia Benitez-Nelson
Associate Dean for Instruction, Community Engagement, & Research
Carolina Distinguished Professor & Endowed Chair in Marine Studies
School of the Earth, Ocean, & Environment
701 Sumter Street, EWSC 408/Petigru 204
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208

website
<https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/earth_ocean_and_environment/our_people/directory/benitez-nelson_claudia.php>

On Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 9:32 AM Exports_all for Passow, Uta <
exports_all at espo.nasa.gov> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I appreciate all the chatter on the topic. Personally, right now I feel
> deeply uncomfortable at the thought of going on the ship in four weeks - as
> much as I hate to even think that. But as a scientist It seems to me that
> we are on a downhill slide on this. I'd love to be convinced otherwise.
>
> Trying to be realistic we now know that
>
> some carriers of Corona may not have any symptoms, e.g. spread it and go
> completely undetected for a long time. This explains while first in China
> and now in Europe the rate of "infected people" increased by an order of
> magnitude per week for the first 2-3 weeks.
>
> that the only thing that seems to help is efficient social isolation. This
> is important to avoid hospitals getting overwhelmed with the fraction of
> people who do need hospitalization. The "wave of illness" has to be
> flattened to allow efficient help to those who need it.  (When Germany
> cancels spectators for the soccer matches, you can be sure it has a good
> reason).  Planes which we will all use to get there are not good examples
> of social isolation.
>
> Boats are incubators (I remember one member catching a stomach flu during
> a brief refueling stop in Pakistan - there was almost no way to contain
> this).
>
> These Boats will also be far from home, meaning we leave behind people who
> might need our support at this time.
>
> The USA is closely following Europe, which is following China. Who knows
> what is really going on in Iran. Canada is a bit behind, Africa is very
> behind - but in 4 weeks it will be everywhere (except China maybe :-)).
>
> Stay safe and avoid close contacts to lots of people
>
> Regards
>
> Uta
> On 2020-03-10 11:59 p.m., Exports_all for Ken Buesseler wrote:
>
> Hi all-
>
>
> I appreciate the EXPORTS “family” greeting from Laura, and like a family,
> I’m guessing this email will open up a wide range of responses from make it
> happen, to cut our losses. I’ve heard these last couple days from several
> PIs concerned about the risks of moving ahead, not just in response to the
> denial at MIT of exceptions to their travel ban, but also personal stories
> of friends and family who are impacted in one way or another.  The
> medical situation and social response is getting worse (just look at
> Italy), and I have no faith it will be getting better (look at our
> government). So while my perspective on this type of work has been go, go,
> go, since well before EXPORTS, LETZGO and VERTIGO, there are forces beyond
> our control that make this a time to reconsider our options.
>
>
> Ken
> On 3/10/2020 9:21 PM, Exports_all for Lorenzoni, Laura (HQ-DK000) wrote:
>
> Dear EXPORTS family,
>
>
>
> NASA and the EXPORTS project office have been closely following the
> developments related to the COVID-19, and we have been discussing what the
> implications of the current situation could be on our work, our daily
> lives, and each of us as individuals. As we move closer to our set sail
> dates in April, we are considering all factors and making the necessary
> decisions to mitigate potential risks to your safety and the work you’ve
> been invested in for the past three years.
>
>
>
> It is our priority that our scientists and colleagues feel safe and
> comfortable undertaking the work which they are passionate about. You all
> know that our (Dave, Ivona and my) door is always open to you to express
> any concerns, frustrations, or simply to ask questions. As we continue to
> navigate the situation, I ask that you please don’t hesitate giving me a
> call (202.358.0917 office /202.329.4052 mobile) or send me an email (
> laura.lorenzoni at nasa.gov) if you wish to discuss anything in particular,
> need to vent, or just need a sounding board for anything. Ivona and Dave
> are also at your disposal. Rest assured that we are monitoring the
> situation regularly and discussing the rapidly evolving conditions on a
> daily basis.
>
>
>
> We will probably have a project call within the next few days to inform
> all of you of our current thinking and situation. In the meantime, please
> reach out if you’d like to talk. We depend on each other for the success of
> EXPORTS, and the passion for the work you do is what has made it all
> possible so far. Even in adversity it is important to remain optimistic,
> and above all stay safe.
>
>
>
> Thank you all for being part of EXPORTS!
>
> Laura (on behalf of the Project Office)
>
> _______________________________________________
> Exports_all mailing listExports_all at espo.nasa.govhttps://espo.nasa.gov/lists/listinfo/exports_all
>
> --
> Ken Buesseler
> Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutionhttp://cafethorium.whoi.edu     @Cafe_Thorium
> Director, Center for Marine and Environmental Radioactivityhttp://www.whoi.edu/CMER        @whoi_cmer
> 508-289-2309
>
>
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