One effort, led by Kyle Jamieson, an associate professor of computer science, will work to develop a system using cellphones to help public health officials quickly track the contacts of people diagnosed with diseases such as COVID-19, while preserving privacy. That ability could become critical in efforts to contain the disease after the initial surge of cases passes through the population. The second effort, led by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and by H. Vincent Poor, Princeton’s interim dean of engineering, will expand a mathematical model that allows public officials to measure the effect that mutations and countermeasures have on the spread of the disease. The model, which could be used for any pandemic, would allow governments to gauge the effectiveness of measures such as social distancing and quarantines before implementing them.https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/04/13/nsf-rapid-grant-backs-princeton-research-track-and-contain-pandemic

With the aim of accelerating solutions to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Princeton has awarded University funding for seven new faculty-led research initiatives with strong potential for impact. The projects include research on asymptomatic transmission, immunity following infection, vaccines, new treatments, contact tracing, economic implications of social distancing, challenges unique to urban environments, and strategies for reducing pandemic-associated domestic violence. https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/04/10/princeton-awards-over-half-million-dollars-funding-rapid-novel-and-actionable-covid

One week into “virtual instruction,” faculty members were continuing to learn and make changes for the rest of the semester. Universities around the world are going through the same experience, so there is global camaraderie, commiseration, and an abundance of resources. And professors said that the lessons of this experience will affect the way they teach in-person classes in the future. https://paw.princeton.edu/article/princeton-adjusts-teaching-and-learning-dance-chemistry-and-more-online

The Daily Princetonian examines how all clubs and extracurriculars, have had to adjust their meetings and projects to make them possible remotely. https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2020/04/rethinking-community-how-student-organizations-are-coping-off-campus

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly every aspect of campus life has become digitized. While there are some extracurricular activities that simply cannot be held over Zoom, intramural sports refuse to be left behind. Princeton University Campus Recreation recently released information regarding intramural e-sports, which offers students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to engage in friendly virtual competition in a variety of games on PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and even mobile devices. The competition will feature 1:1 battles beginning Friday, April 17, as well as playoff tournaments later in the semester for the following games: Pokémon Go Battles, Trivia Crack 2, Words with Friends, FIFA 19 & 20, Madden 19 & 20, NBA 2K 19 & 20, and Mario Kart Deluxe 8. https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2020/04/campus-rec-offers-intramural-e-sports-on-ps4-xbox-nintendo-switch-and-mobile-devices

Princeton University has launched a new podcast series called “We Roar” to share the personal stories and expertise of students, faculty, staff and alumni during the COVID-19 pandemic. The podcast will offer short meditations by a wide range of Princetonians as they continue their work and daily lives through one of the watershed moments of our time. Episodes are available through the “We Roar” website and most major podcast platforms. In one of four episodes released Tuesday, April 14, President Christopher L. Eisgruber describes the negotiations behind the University’s decision to send students home for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester. The premiere guests on ‘We Roar’ also include Jeremy Adelman, the Henry Charles Lea Professor of History and director of the Global History Lab; Kara Amoratis, associate director of International Travel Safety and Security; and Kirsten Traudt, Class of 2020. http://weroar.princeton.edu/?utm_source=covid19news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=communications

Rabbi Julie Roth writes: “This year, when we are all restricted from leaving our homes and passing through the threshold of our doorways into the world, let us stand up despite our isolation, anxiety and despair, and open our doors and our hearts with singing.” https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/hope-isnt-canceled/?fbclid=IwAR3RXhYfUAcaJADCVJ2PPNLhzlLIBHTguSEodfVWJbEpL2WM2ZlmWmDg41g

From broad-based efforts — such as providing COVID-19 testing to students on campus and maintaining safe, clean dormitories — to the tiniest details — like a birthday cupcake baked by Campus Dining and delivered to the room of a student in isolation — staff members are working diligently and creatively to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the campus community. Their work is in addition to the faculty and academic staff who are leading the University’s virtual instruction program for students who are on and off campus. This story highlights some of the many ways staff are supporting students remaining on campus. https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/04/08/university-staff-work-247-support-campus-community-during-coronavirus-pandemic

In response to COVID-19, HathiTrust Digital Library has made over five million books from Princeton University Library’s (PUL) print collection available online for all Princeton students, faculty, and staff. The Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS) includes in-copyright material. Users will have 60 minutes of access to the book on the HathiTrust website during any session.
https://library.princeton.edu/news/general/2020-04-03/over-5-million-books-puls-print-collection-now-available-online-through-new

COVID-19 is taking lives and livelihoods. The U.S. is posting historic unemployment numbers. But it didn’t have to be this way. So why is it? Princeton’s Cecilia Rouse joins NPR’s “On Point” to discuss.
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/04/07/unemployment-numbers-coronavirus

In their opinion piece for Project Syndicate, Princeton’s Peter Singer and co-author Michael Plant write, “It pains us to say it, but US President Donald Trump is right: “We cannot let the cure be worse than the disease.” Lockdowns have health benefits: fewer will die of COVID-19, as well as other transmissible diseases. But they have real social and economic costs: social isolation, unemployment, and widespread bankruptcies, to name three. These ills are not yet fully apparent, but they soon will be.”
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/when-will-lockdowns-be-worse-than-covid19-by-peter-singer-and-michael-plant-2020-04

In his opinion piece for Project Syndicate, Princeton’s Harold James writes, “As Matthew M. Kavanagh of Georgetown University argues in The Lancet, the pandemic has revealed a trilemma: it is impossible to have a medically healthy society, a healthy economy, and a healthy democracy at the same time.”
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/navigating-covid19-economy-health-democracy-trilemma-by-harold-james-2020-04?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=page-posts-april20&utm_post-type=link&utm_format=16:9&utm_creative=link-image&utm_post-date=04-06-20

University alumni serving in Congress on both sides of the aisle are working together to pass legislation to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Thus far, Congress has passed three emergency coronavirus bills: the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, signed into law on March 6, provides $8.3 billion in emergency aid.
https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2020/04/alumni-in-congress-speak-on-covid-19

Princeton sophomore Valeria Torres-Olivares volunteers with her family to bring virtual story time to children in the community. Alongside her mother and younger sister, Valeria helps run The Red Umbrella Princeton, a program that promotes children’s literacy.
https://www.nj.com/times/2020/04/princeton-reading-program-takes-story-time-virtual-during-coronavirus-outbreak.html