Scott is the Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator for the Department of Chemistry.
Who are you quarantined with?
My lovely wife and often, my daughter.
How have your days changed since physical/social distancing became the new normal?
Certainly less human interaction. Finding alternative ways to connect with friends, family and co-workers. My wife, daughter and I are certainly spending more quality time and it is good.
What do you miss most about the MIT Campus?
I’ve been visiting campus twice a week. This has felt like a privilege, but it is a vastly different experience. I miss impromptu meetings in labs with researchers and staff. I miss providing lab safety refresher trainings in-person with the subtleties of human interaction that Zoom does not always capture. I miss peppermints that Sara Frenier puts out in a candy dish in Headquarters.
What are you most looking forward to about the return to the “regularly scheduled program”?
I’m looking forward to being part of a thriving society again without the looming concern of sickness. Seeing active research and teaching labs. And I’m looking forward to hugging my mom.
What are some aspects of this moment in time that you are grateful for?
My family, employment, good health and supportive friends.
What are some new or preexisting activities/hobbies/research ventures that you’ve taken on while being in quarantine?
I had been preparing for a longer canoe race called the General Clinton Canoe Regatta. The event was scheduled for Memorial Day and has been cancelled. My would-be partner for the event is a feisty, tenacious and well-respected woman in her seventies. She’s remarkable and wise and I’ve been missing paddling canoe with her. Having said this, my wife, daughter and I have been able to get out on the water with less pressure to train hard and this has been wonderful.
How have you been maintaining social connections while practicing social distancing?
Zoom and such. Some outdoor activities.
What will you remember most about daily life during this global pandemic?
The people who stepped up and inspired. My co-workers, friends and family members that put their best foot forward in a strange and uncertain time. People who kept a sense of humor and were brave.