How is the pandemic impacting our work?

Today’s virtual meeting was focused around one question: “How has the pandemic changed your ideas about teaching, your Smithsonian projects and life in general?” A lively discussion ensued as Fellows compared how they were dealing with emergency remote teaching, what they saw as shortcomings and what they saw as the challenges if we are to continue in this mode. Challenges included how to handle lab classes, how to reach students who seem to have disappeared, technology challenges both faculty and students have and how to engage students for long virtual class sessions.

There were a lot of good ideas suggested and Fellows shared ways in which their ideas about their projects are changing and evolving in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mimi and I were able to share links to some virtual exhibits. These included:

• http://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
• https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour/other-smithsonian-tours
• https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=Smithsonian
• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ten-museums-you-can-virtually-visit-180974443/

Next week Philippa will be joining us once again.