Oh, and if you are concerned about virus transmission at in-person
conferences, you are not alone! I would not be going forward with this
if I didn't feel sufficient controls were in place. To date, I ahve
heard of no reporteed cases of transmission at GRC meetings, so I feel
they are doing their job. Vaccination is required, and
masking/distancing rules are not draconian but sensible. Outdoor dining
is available, and room and board are included with registration.
I will also be bringing my air quality meters (CO2 and particulate) for
monitoring how well the air is being replaced and filtered. If you don't
already own such devices, I highly recommend them. Bring them on the
plane, and be sure to keep your mask tight during boarding and
un-boarding when air filtration is minimal. Exhaled breath has 100x the
CO2 of outside air, and so makes a pessimistic proxy for how much of the
ambient air was recently in someone else's lungs. If CO2 is high, filter
it. Do that with HEPA filters, a mask, or both. PM2.5 and other particle
counters reading zero means your HEPA filters are working. But, if CO2
reads 400 ppm you are effectively outside. We are scientists. We know
how to do this.
The official GRC COVID-19 policies are detailed here:
https://www.grc.org/covid-19-protocols-and-travel-information/
the latest venue policies (Bates College) can be found here:
https://www.grc.org/_resources/common/userfiles/file/Bates%20&%20GRC-COVID%20and%20Venue%20Information%20.pdf
Looking forward to a safe and productive GRC!
-James Holton
MAD Scientist
On 5/7/2022 10:11 AM, James Holton wrote:
One more thing:
Some may also recall that in 2020 we were accepting tax-deductible
donations to help attendees from underrepresented groups overcome the
financial barriers to GRC attendance. Those funds are still available,
and donations are also still possible. I ask that applicants who feel
they may qualify please self-identify to me, off-list, in an email. It
is my goal to bring as many diverse backgrounds and points of view as
possible into this meeting, because that is what makes for the most
productive discussions.
-James Holton
MAD Scientist
On 5/2/2022 12:35 PM, James Holton wrote:
Many of you may recall approximately 1000 years ago we were looking
forward to getting together for another great Diffraction Methods
GRC. Now, after a 4-year break, the meeting is on!
https://www.grc.org/diffraction-methods-in-structural-biology-conference/2022/
It will be in-person at Bates College in Lewiston, ME, USA, on July
24-29 of 2022. Strange how it is strange to be considering meeting in
person, but recent GRCs have proven they can be conducted safely.
We've learned a lot about viruses in recent years, both in our lives
and in our labs. Artificial Intelligence has come a long way, and the
role of biological structure, and indeed science in general, is
impacting the everyday lives of human beings more than ever before.
It is time we got together to talk about all this. Yes, we've gotten
a lot of work done remotely, but some things just have to wait until
you are face-to-face. Preferably over a Maine lobster dinner. GRCs
are not about listening to talks, they are about the discussion that
comes after. Newcomers and Veterans sharing and debating ideas until
far too late at night. It is my sincere hope that fighting this
virus, and looking toward a brighter future, will inspire even more
visionary and collaborative ideas for the role structure will play in
that future. I can't imagine a better theme of discussion for this
next meeting.
-James Holton
MAD Scientist and Chair of the 2020/2022 Diffraction Methods GRC
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