Psychology researcher recruiting volunteers for online study on responses to the coronavirus pandemic

Survey: Canadian Responses to the Coronavirus Pandemic

A study designed by Dr. Jim Cameron, Department of Psychology professor and researcher at Saint Mary's University, will increase understanding of Canadians’ perceptions of the coronavirus pandemic and their actions in response to it.

Nations and communities are using social and physical distancing to slow the spread of the virus so that healthcare systems aren’t overwhelmed. The success of the physical distancing approach largely rests on individuals’ voluntary compliance with public health recommendations and legal regulations.

As the situation evolves in Canada, there have been concerns that physical distancing recommendations have been disregarded or not taken seriously enough by some individuals. National and provincial leaders have using various techniques to encourage public support for these initiatives.

“We hope that the study will contribute to social psychological science, and inform practices related to public health messaging,” said Dr. Cameron.

Canadian adults (18 years or over) are invited to participate in the survey, which takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Click here to start the survey: 

https://smuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dhGoFhUpLBUtCS1

(SMU REB file #20-095)

Saint Mary’s applauds and welcomes support for students

Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray said the announcement today, April 22, by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will help students throughout the country.  

“We know students were worried about their personal finances and their family's finances,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray. “Today, Prime Minister Trudeau provided those worried families support and hope.” 

The federal government’s new programs will provide support for students over the summer months and will increase support for students as they return to study this fall. 

“The best way to have a stronger economy in the future is to invest in students today,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray. “This is an unprecedented investment in students and our sector. This investment will help students this fall, and it will help our economy grow and be more resilient to future shocks.” 

Dr. Summerby-Murray said all levels of government have worked hard to create new supports at record speed while being responsive to the sector and other stakeholders. 

“This crisis is testing our institutions, and they are proving they are up to the challenge,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray.  

He noted Saint Mary’s University has worked with alumni, staff and faculty donors to provide short-term emergency support to its students who need it most, provided PPE to frontline health workers, engaged in rapid response research funded by the federal government, and is providing free mentoring to businesses throughout the region.  

“All sectors of our society are standing together as we combat the pandemic, and we remain committed to being active partners in the fight.”  

Message from the President: Condolences to our community

Dear Saint Mary's community, 

The unthinkable tragedy of this past weekend has left all of us shocked, saddened, and grieving. Our closely-knit, peaceful province is feeling this loss deeply.
 
In a place that celebrates close connections in our everyday lives, these senseless acts are particularly painful. Our community is connected; our students, staff, faculty and alumni are part of Nova Scotia and many have lost loved ones, family, friends and acquaintances.

On behalf of the entire Saint Mary’s community, I extend deepest sympathies to those who have lost someone. I also want to express gratitude to the many first responders and front-line workers who risk their own safety to protect their fellow Nova Scotians.

In a continuing expression of remembrance, flags at Saint Mary’s University were lowered to half-staff yesterday morning and will remain so for the rest of this week, including through the virtual vigil being hosted on Facebook on Friday evening

While we cannot gather in-person to support one another in this difficult time, there is help available. I encourage you to reach out to these university supports if you need assistance. I also want to convey to you the many expressions of support we are receiving from across Canada and around the world.
 
As the sun set over Nova Scotia yesterday evening, many of us took comfort in its uncommon beauty. Still others across the province and the country lit candles as a sign of remembrance and solidarity. I am consoled by these simple but significant reminders of our connectedness, care, and resilience – I hope you are as well.
 
Take care of yourselves, and take care of each other.
 
Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray
President and Vice-Chancellor
Saint Mary’s University

Saint Mary’s calling on its alumni and friends to support emergency funding for students who have been financially impacted by COVID-19

The Saint Mary’s community is coming together in support of emergency funding for students who have been financially impacted by COVID-19. 

“Our students need our support more than ever,” said Saint Mary’s University President Robert Summerby-Murray. “It is imperative that we join together and help our students during this unprecedented time.”

The goal of the Emergency Student Bursary Fund is to help students with unexpected and urgent expenses in extenuating circumstances. Related to COVID-19, the fund will provide short-term and long-term support for students and cover the basics such as rent, bills, groceries, and other necessities.

Many Saint Mary’s students were employed in the industries hardest hit by COVID-19 closures including hospitality, tourism, and retail. This has resulted in significant job loss and an urgent need for student financial assistance.

“Every day, we are receiving new applications for financial aid from students who are in challenging situations and we are responding as quickly as we can to meet their  needs,” said Erin Sargeant Greenwood, Vice President, Advancement.

The Emergency Student Bursary Fund provides resources to help students complete their studies and finish the academic term.

“The funds will help alleviate financial pressure and keep our students on track towards graduation,” said President Summerby-Murray. “The fund represents our commitment to our students and reminds them that we are always here for them. We are in this together.”

If you are interested in supporting Saint Mary’s University students, please visit our online giving page for the Student Emergency Bursary Fund to make a gift.

To learn more about Saint Mary’s response to COVID-19 please visit: https://smu.ca/virtualuniversity/covidupdates.html

MTEI alumnus innovating in 3D to help fight virus

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kevin Gallant MTEI ’16, began making face shields for health professionals and customer service outlets through 3D printing.

Kevin Gallant MTEI ’16 and two of his 3D printed face shields.

Kevin Gallant is a professional engineer, entrepreneur, and an instructor and researcher with NBCC Miramichi.

“I was requested, from a few consultants and companies, to help in this request for PPE or protective gear for hospitals. For some reason, I expected this, based on my 3D printing network requests,” says Kevin. 

He posted about the shields on LinkedIn and was surprised to receive over 13k views, along with comments and requests to help. “This surprised me, that people were empowered to see how something so simple for me made such a large impact. I wanted to share how volunteerism can help support health professionals or people on the front lines that need PPE.”

“I purchased a $25 face shield from a local retail store three weeks ago,” he adds. “Now I can make them for one-fifth the price, but we are trying to price it properly to cover costs, shipping and provide some incentives to volunteer 3D printer shops. Safety is a concern with any product supply chain movement.”  

So how do you start making face shields? For someone who revels in technology, this part was easy: “I knew a company called PRUSA had shared a prototype design that they have perfected through dozens of prints, called the RC3.1 face shield.”

The company had gone through dozens of prototypes and two verifications with the Czech Ministry of Health. The work is shared under a license under a Creative Commons 4.0 International License. 

“I downloaded the 3D print file and imported it into my own 3D printer software for Ditto-pro supported formats. This was a great design, and fit 100 clear shields perfectly.” 

“I have two brands of 3D printers in my own home basement lab. These can print a face shield support in three hours each.”

Kevin used the rope skills he developed lobster fishing to tie the elastic rear backings for a comfortable fit. The backings were supplied from Anne Bracken Formals.

Kevin is now working with a supply chain to maintain over 25 3D printers in a network creating the PPE pieces. The clear shields are currently supplied, but there are plans to stamp out their own rolled sheets once the supply chain is broken. 

Face shields isn’t the end of it though – he’s already working on the next way to help. “Another different COVID-19 project is our NO-touch door knob for senior facilities.  This custom door knob attachment that can allow people only to use their arm or elbow to open and pull.  This will help with a no touch or prevent contamination in high-touch zones.”  

“As an engineer and inventor I promote community projects such as new cedar planters for food banks which have rain gutters to support self-watering leveling tanks,” says Kevin. “I’m always open to explore new projects, including sustainable and renewable technologies. I invite people who are looking for an engineer partner for their social enterprise or sustainability project to check out my video profile.”

Kevin has been teaching 3D and innovation for more than 26 years.

Additional notes:

• Check out Kevin Gallant’s 3D printed face shields in this video

• View an explainer video of the no-touch door knob attachment.

• View Kevin Gallant’s professional video profile.

Enactus Saint Mary's Square Roots program offers free vegetable bundles

Square Roots bundles.

Enactus Saint Mary's award-winning Square Roots food bundle program is doing its part to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting on April 3, 2020, Square Roots will be donating their vegetable bundles for free.

"The idea to continue the program for free came from our Sackville community manager Jason Craig," says Hannah Tibbet, the bundle program co-project manager with Square Roots. "He connected us with people who were looking to donate to the program for it to continue but for free. It's a challenging time for a lot of people, so 5500 pounds of free food makes a big difference."

The free vegetable bundles are being distributed Square Roots locations across Halifax, including Fairview/Clayton Park, Sackville, Bedford, Dartmouth and Tantallon. Square Roots has partnered with Harbour Watercraft Tours & Adventures, run by SMU alumni Ossama Nasrallah Bcomm'18 and Omar Hassan Bcomm'16, to assist with deliveries.

Halifax has supported us since day one and it's our time to give back. Today, we sorted and delivered more than 1000 lb of free vegetables for people in need. It's times like these that we support each other as one community. #SquareRoots #EnactusSMU @THWAdventures pic.twitter.com/U2RtKxx3Fc

— Ossama Nasrallah (@Osamaa95) April 3, 2020

Square Roots sends a special thanks to the supporters of free bundles in Fairview/Clayton Park.
Supporters include:

• Patricia Arab, MLA for Fairview-Clayton Park;

• Russell Walker, Councillor for District 10;

• Gary O'Hara, Watchdog Communications; and

• Jodi Tsitouras, Magic Beings Child Care Centre.

Launched in November 2016, Square Roots fights food insecurity, food deserts and food waste in Nova Scotia through a monthly, affordable and healthy food bundle service. The food bundles cost $5 and $10 each and feature 10 pounds of imperfect fruits and vegetables sourced locally from the Annapolis Valley. They may be too imperfect for sale in stores, but they are perfectly good to eat.

Square Roots is an Enactus Saint Mary's social enterprise. With over 150 students, Enactus Saint Mary's currently operates seven projects and one process, ranging from consulting entrepreneurs on the autism spectrum to forming food-based social enterprises with refugees and at-risk youth, to operating a computer literacy program for at-risk youth. Enactus Saint Mary's is proud to partner with the Saint Mary's University Entrepreneurship Centre to offer its programs.

For more information, visit @squarerootssmu on Facebook or Instagram.

SMU Language Centre sharing the universal language of support and care

The Language Centre at Saint Mary’s University

For many, going to a new country to live and learn a new language can be daunting. For students at the Saint Mary’s University Language Centre, it’s just the start of a new semester. With the initiation of physical distancing as a result of COVID-19, the Language Centre has expanded an existing program to promote virtual social activities for students learning English.

“While many of our students have returned home, we do have students staying here in Halifax, and it’s important that we continue to engage with them and support them during this challenging time,” says Matthew Beal, the Student Programs Coordinator at the Saint Mary’s University Language Centre. “We’ve constantly been touching base with students, virtually, sharing online resources and at-home activity suggestions, like exercise videos, mindfulness meditations, virtual museum tours and more.”

Before the university move to virtual operation, suspending in-person classes and activities, the centre was working on growing an English conversation program called The Talk Project. This program connects SMU student volunteers with language centre student participants through informal networking and discussion groups. The program allows SMU student volunteers to earn Co-Curricular Record Credits and provides language centre students with an opportunity to practice their English conversation skills.

“In just three short months, this program had grown exponentially as our most popular student activity,” remarks Beal. “It’s been so successful that we decided to ramp it up right now to make sure our students are only physically distancing themselves but still engaging socially.”

The Talk Project 2.0 is a group video-chat format using the Zoom cloud meetings application. TLC students have the chance to connect with each other, and with SMU student volunteers, in small video-chat groups. The idea is to maintain socialization from a distance through stimulating discussions and the sharing of experiences.

“We feel this program is an invaluable resource right now, as the maintenance of social relationships is so crucial to human wellbeing,” adds Beal. “Moreover, we always want to help students bridge the gap between their in-class academic English studies and the practical use of language competency in the real world.”

SMU Entrepreneurship Centre partners with prominent alumna to expand free business coaching sessions

In response to COVID-19 and the challenges it poses to local businesses, the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre is expanding its consulting services to offer more free virtual one-on-one business coaching sessions. 

“Many local businesses are having to make tough decisions,” says Michael Sanderson, director, Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre. “We are here to connect local companies with free virtual one-on-one business coaching to help them find the best way forward for their business during this challenging time.” 

Shannon Byrne Susko BComm’89 BSc’92

For the past few weeks, the centre has offered free virtual strategy sessions to Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs to help identify potential solutions to current challenges. Now through a partnership with prominent alumna and successful serial entrepreneur Shannon Byrne Susko BComm’89 BSc’92, the centre is expanding those services. 

“I have more than twenty years of experience building and leading high-growth technology companies in the financial services industry, and during that time, I have dealt with adversity and economic downturns,” says Susko, CEO and founder of Metronome United. “Now, I share that knowledge and experience with 60 Metronome coaches and their clients worldwide. We help CEOs and leadership teams overcome obstacles and grow. We know that businesses are facing significant challenges as a result of COVID-19, and we are here to help you.” 

Recognized in March 2020 as one Canada’s Top 25 Inspirational Women Leaders, Susko was also named as one Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2018 and was awarded Canada’s Top 40 under 40 in 2001. Susko has built and led high-growth tech companies in the financial services industry. In six years, she co-founded, managed, and sold two companies: Subserveo, Inc. and Paradata Systems Inc. 

For more information, visit www.smuec.ca and www.metronomeunited.com .

SMU faculty support front line health workers

During the global pandemic of COVID-19, supporting each other and our community is more important than ever. At Saint Mary’s University, while administration prepared for the move to virtual operations, an enterprising group of researchers and faculty members saw an opportunity to help those at the front lines of the epidemic.

A portion of @SMUScience lab supplies going to health care workers today. Thank you @EPICLundholmLab for coordinating today with Megan Vincent. Hoping to coordinate more PPE and lab supplies to go to health care workers from @SMUScience over the next few days. #COVIDkindness pic.twitter.com/2s0wx66v5s

— Dr. Linda Campbell (@LM_Campbell) March 23, 2020

“As the university prepares to transition away from in-person classes and labs, we quickly realized that we had lab supplies that could be useful to medical professionals,” says Dr. Linda Campbell, Director of the School of Environment at Saint Mary’s. “It’s important that people support the nurses, doctors, and medical staff at the front lines.”

Dr. Linda Campbell and Dr. Jeremy Lundholm coordinated the efforts. Dr. Lundholm was joined by chemistry professors Dr. Christa Brosseau and Dr. Jason Masuda and Faculty of Science staff to gather lab coats, safety glasses, gloves and masks, and prepare the supplies for transport to local hospitals.

“We saw an opportunity to show support on behalf of the SMU community, and we seized the opportunity to get these supplies in the hands of the people who need them most right now,” adds Dr. Campbell.

The Saint Mary’s University Community sends thanks to them, and the Faculty of Science, for their donations of much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE).

SMU advisor’s work to support Wuhan helps efforts to assist Nova Scotians

Bill Bu MEd’94, Senior Advisor to China, Saint Mary’s University

What goes around, comes around, is a saying that many of us have heard throughout the years. In the case of Saint Mary’s University’s Senior Advisor to China, Bill Bu MEd’94, it’s brought a pleasant surprise to Nova Scotia in uncertain times.

In early February, Bu was a vital part of the efforts to connect hospitals and medical staff in Wuhan, China, with the medical supplies that were sorely needed. Now that COVID-19 has come to Canada, the experience and connections he gained working to help those in Wuhan, is being used to support the QEII hospital in Halifax.

For Bu, COVID-19 has been something he has followed closely after it came to the region he used to call home. 

“The outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan greatly impacted my family,” says Bu. “My wife’s parents live there, and I have many connections there from my time studying and teaching at Wuhan University. When I heard about the outbreak, I knew that I couldn’t sit idly by while my family and friends were suffering.”

Bu’s close connection to the situation in Wuhan drove him forward. He began thinking of ways he could help and the number one need that he kept hearing was a call for more medical supplies.

“I decided to reach out to the Halifax community to see if other people felt the same, and I was shocked by their generosity,” says Bu. “We raised thousands of dollars for medical supplies, and we were able to help provide them to those who needed them in China.”

Now those skills developed only months ago are being used to help closer to home. Bu, who is also the President of the Atlantic section of the Hong Kong Canada Business, is working with a variety of leaders in Nova Scotia’s Chinese community to fundraise for the QEII Foundation and the medical equipment they need during this pandemic.

In only three days, the campaign to raise money for the QEII launched and received over $15,000 in donations. Now the funds raised has surpassed $60,000. Bu says that at least half the donations come from Chinese Canadians and from people in China, who previously lived in Nova Scotia. Donations have even been received from people in Wuhan, paying forward the work of Bu and many others to support those in one of the areas hardest hit by the early stages of the pandemic.

The funds raised for the QEII Foundation will purchase items like electronic stethoscopes, Bluetooth O2 probes, ultrasounds and bedside diagnostics. The funds will also support home self-care and recovery, in addition to virtual care solutions.

While the generosity of the donations may come as a surprise, Bu isn’t shocked by the support. 

“We live in a global community,” adds Bu. “When one member of our community is in trouble, the rest of us work together to support them.”

A look at the new virtual operations environment at Saint Mary’s

Universities across the country have rapidly mobilized to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the health and well-being of their campus and broader communities. According to Universities Canada, in the space of about ten days, universities:

• shifted to online education for over 1.4 million students, about 18% of whom are international students;

• de-populated residences while providing accommodation for those with no alternative; and

• wound down research operations except for those projects that are in the vital national interest, such as combating the pandemic.

The Saint Mary's community continues to do an incredible amount of work to safeguard our students, faculty and staff while maintaining operations, completing the academic term and serving the needs of our community.

The transition to virtual operations was a major shift for faculty, staff and students, but has gone rather smoothly.

"Shout out to the folks in the Studio who provided guidance on the "Virtual Classroom" and ITSS," wrote Dr. Peter Twohig, Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts, on Twitter shortly after the transition. "My session this morning with the students worked seamlessly and the students gave it a good review."

The Studio for Teaching and Learning has provided a wealth of resources for faculty, students and staff to help make the switch to online/remote teaching. And more support is available. The Software & Application Support Centre (SAS) provides training and support for faculty, staff, and students using university-supported software and technology.

The Patrick Power Library has moved to virtual hours of operation. Students, staff and faculty, can access more than 350,000 e-book titles and over 30,000 online scholarly journals from home, anytime. These are available via the library catalogue at http://smu.ca/library. Students, faculty and staff can access Research Help via email (research@smu.ca) and text (902-702-3057) from Monday-Friday, 9 am-7 pm, and Saturday 1-5 pm as they continue to work on projects and assignments.

The librarians and staff are also working to fill document delivery requests for articles, book chapters, and other items that can be provided electronically when possible. They are unable to accept requests for books or other physical library items at this time. If you currently have any items borrowed through inter-library loan, please keep them until the library is open again to the public. Please email ill@smu.ca with any questions.

The university continues to support the well-being of the remaining students in residence. Special thanks to our residence, facilities and security staff who are working diligently to keep residences and campus clean and safe.

For future students, the Recruitment and Marketing team is working extended hours — now seven days a week — to make sure incoming students have access to information. There is also a new live chat service on smu.ca to assist prospective students, and an additional information phone line open after-hours.

To help us stay connected and positive as a community, we're collecting stories of kindness and compassion, as well as shout-outs to colleagues who are going above and beyond in a difficult time. Send your ideas to rachelle.boudreau@smu.ca or tag @smuhaliax, #smucommunity on social media.

Saint Mary’s researcher to study organizational response to disease outbreak with major new funding announcement

A closer look at how employers respond during disease outbreaks is part of a new research study underway at Saint Mary’s University.

A research team led by Saint Mary’s Professor of Psychology Dr. Kevin Kelloway has received a grant for $333,000 over two years from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to study COVID-19.

Dr. Kevin Kelloway

“Dealing with a pandemic on this scale is a massive social challenge that has dramatically changed the nature of workplaces,” said Dr. Kelloway. “Our project examines the workplace changes and the effect that they have on individual employees.  How, for example, do organizational policies influence individual decisions such as decisions around hygiene or self-isolation? How is the mental health of employees affected by the disruptions and re-organizations, and what can organizations do to help employees cope at this time?”

This research funding is for a project titled “Organizational Response to Disease Outbreak,” which will look at how both public and private organizations are challenged with the need to protect and promote the health and health practices of their employees while maintaining operations during disease outbreaks.

The study will look at employee perceptions of their employers’ management of these two goals, with a focus on examining how the organizational response to disease outbreaks influences employees' own health and health-promoting behaviours.

Along with a large national survey representative of Canadian workers, which Dr. Kelloway says will be longitudinal, following employees as they go through this experience, the team is also planning more focused studies on the role of leaders (managers and supervisors) in managing this crisis as well as more in-depth studies of employees who have transitioned to working at home.

The research group will start the two-year study very quickly in order to get good data on how people are adjusting and reacting to the crisis as it unfolds.

“It’s a quickly changing environment, said Dr. Kelloway. “For example, when we wrote the grant, no one was thinking of social isolation on the scale that we are now experiencing.”

The team has launched a website (ohpdata.com) that will be continually updated with information for employers and employees on how to adapt to changing circumstances. As the results from the research start to emerge, they will be posted to that site as well.

This funding for this project is part of an investment of $25.8M from the Government of Canada to contribute to the global efforts to address the COVID-19 outbreak. This is a portion of the $275M in funding for research on medical countermeasures against COVID-19 announced by the Prime Minister on March 11, 2020.

Dr. Kelloway’s team also includes Dr. Jane Mullen (Mount Allison University), Dr. Stephanie Gilbert (Cape Breton University) and Dr. Jennifer Dimoff (University of Ottawa) as well as PhD students Tabatha Thibault, Rachael Jones Chick and Vanessa Myers – all PhD students in the Industrial/Organizational Psychology program at Saint Mary’s.