Student Mental Health During the Pandemic
WUN is hosting a series of webinars to help member universities benefit from each other's experience in addressing some of the unprecedented pandemic-related challenges now facing them. Each webinar will last an hour, and will be organised around the sharing of insights about a specific challenge, followed by a broad Q&A.
The focus of our first webinar, to be held on Tuesday 5 May (click through for local times) will be student mental health. The webinar will begin with the sharing of both research and practice insights and experiences from members of the WUN Student Mental Health Working Group. This will be followed by a broader discussion with all attendees.
Climate and shock: resilience in food production systems after COVID-19
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, interruptions to public services and the imposition of social distancing have had major impacts on global agriculture and food supply. Professor Mark Eisler of the WUN supported Global Farm Platform discusses likely impacts of the crisis and the potential for rebuilding systems in more environmentally and economically sustainable way.
Click through to read more.
Mental health and COVID-19: How WUN universities are supporting their students
Before COVID-19 there were transnational trends in student mental health as well as local particularities, as students face adjustment challenges, the demands of a competitive environment and external pressures like finances and employability.
As the pandemic and related containment measures take hold, click through to learn about how WUN universities are supporting students’ mental health.
Auckland to conduct clinical trials on remote temperature device for rest homes
A matchbox-sized body sensor worn under the arm to monitor whether someone has a fever and then sends that data over long distances has won funding to conduct clinical trials. The temperature-reading biosensor called ‘Nightingale’ is designed to protect those most at risk from Covid-19 and avoid cluster outbreaks in places like rest homes.
University of Bergen conducts 'Bergen in change' COVID-19 Study
The Municipality of Bergen, the Institute of Public Health and the University of Bergen have together prepared a survey to gain knowledge of what the life of the inhabitants of Bergen Municipality is now. The survey will take approx. 10-15 minutes to answer and 80,000 adult residents of Bergen municipality are randomly drawn out and invited for voluntary participation.
Ghana Scientists Sequence Genomes of Novel Coronavirus
Scientists at the University of Ghana have successfully sequenced genomes of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic, obtaining important information about the genetic composition of viral strains in 15 of the confirmed cases in Ghana.
Maastricht University launches AI tool for Covid-19 patient triage
Medical specialists and data scientists will implement artificial intelligence in combating the coronavirus. Experts of the Maastricht UMC+ will participate in this research and focus on the development of a model to predict if a COVID-19 patient will need a respirator. The data of previous patients will be used in this process.
UMass Medical School role in promising COVID-19 drug trial
Thirty-one patients with severe COVID-19 were enrolled in the randomized, controlled clinical trial of the drug remdisivir at UMass Memorial Medical Center’s University and Memorial campuses, and showed that the drug can provide a significant reduction in recovery time for critically ill patients.
Rochester researchers pursue quick ways to detect COVID-19—and better understand it
As researchers around the world race to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, three scientists at theUniversity of Rochester are rapidly adapting previous research to develop tests to detect the fast-spreading disease. These tests could not only help detect COVID-19 in individuals, but also improve understanding of the mechanism by which the disease damages human tissue. The result may lead to new treatments and vaccines.