Fellowships in Times of Covid-19

Currently (1 September 2022), there are no restrictions or specific covid-19 measures at NIAS. We recommend regular self-testing and working from home if fellows have any corona-like symptoms. 

Scenario 1. Lockdown

A NIAS Fellowship in this scenario consists of the following:

• NIAS offices are closed
• All fellows and staff-members work from home and stay inside as much as possible
• Fellows living in NIAS accommodation can choose to travel back home and follow all NIAS activities online, or stay in their NIAS family apartment or studio in Amsterdam
• Twice a week an online seminar with a work-in-progress presentation by one of the fellows
• Smaller online seminars and workshops on specific topics (eg. grant writing group, creative writing workshop, science communication workshop, thematic seminars/workshops organized by fellows)
• Regular online check-in meetings with members of staff and Jan Willem Duyvendak, Director
• Three times a week online Open Office Hours, with Head of Academic Affairs
• Online visibility as a NIAS Fellow (see for example Food for Thought)
• Active online participation is mandatory

Services provided:

• Printing service
• (Limited) Library service
• ICT service
• Facilities provided to improve working from home

Scenario 2. Controlled opening for fellows from outside the Netherlands

This scenario still provides primarily an online NIAS environment.

General

• Stay 1.5 metres (2 arms lengths) away from other people
• If you have mild cold-like symptoms, such as a sore throat, a runny nose, sneezing, a mild cough or a fever below 38 degrees Celsius, you should stay at home until you are fully recovered
• If you have cold-like symptoms and a fever above 38 degrees Celsius and/or shortness of breath, stay at home until you are fully recovered. Others in your household must stay at home too
• If you have an underlying health condition, stay at home
• Wash your hands often: before you go out, when you come home, when you enter the NIAS building, before meals and after going to the toilet. Disinfect your working space upon arrival and when leaving

In this scenario a NIAS Fellowship will entail the following:

• NIAS offices are opened in a controlled way for a maximum of 12 fellows and 4 staff members who work separately in single offices
• Fellows living in NIAS Accommodation are prioritized to work in their NIAS-office
• Everyone needs to ask for permission from the NIAS directorate to work in the NIAS building
• Working hours at the office will be limited
• Conference- and lunch room can be used by a maximum of 4 people
• Twice a week an online seminar with a work-in-progress presentation by one of the fellows
• Smaller online seminars and workshops on specific topics (eg. grant writing group, creative writing workshop, science communication workshop, thematic seminars/workshops organized by fellows)
• Regular online check-in meetings with members of staff including Jan Willem Duyvendak, Director
• Three times a week online Open Office Hours, with Head of Academic Affairs
• Online visibility as a NIAS Fellow via livestream
• Active online participation is mandatory

Services provided:

• Printing service
• Library service
• ICT service
• Facilities provided to improve working from home
• Fellows in the NIAS Building bring their own lunch and have it in their own office

Scenario 3. Controlled opening for limited number of fellows and staff members

This scenario applies when it is again permitted to have gatherings of 3 to 25 persons in public, thereby taking into account 1,5 meter distance. This scenario combines a physical and online NIAS environment.

General

• Stay 1.5 metres (2 arms lengths) away from other people
• If you have mild cold-like symptoms, such as a sore throat, a runny nose, sneezing, a mild cough or a fever below 38 degrees Celsius, you should stay at home until you are fully recovered
• If you have cold-like symptoms and a fever above 38 degrees Celsius and/or shortness of breath, stay at home until you are fully recovered. Others in your household must stay at home too
• If you have an underlying health condition, stay at home
• Wash your hands often: before you go out, when you come home, when you enter the NIAS building, before meals and after going to the toilet. Disinfect your working space upon arrival and when leaving

In scenario 3 the following guidelines apply:

• NIAS offices are opened in a controlled way for a maximum of 12 fellows and 4 staff members who work separately in single offices
• All fellows and staff members can sign in on the online attendance form as long as there is enough space
• Working hours per person in the building are limited to enable more people to make use of their offices
• No need to ask for permission
• Smaller seminars, meetings and workshops up to a maximum of 12 people can take place in the NIAS Conference Room or Lunch Room, thereby taking into account 1,5 meter
• Twice a week an online seminar with a work-in-progress presentation by one of the fellows
• Regular check-in meetings with members of staff including Jan Willem Duyvendak, online or in person
• Three times a week Open Office Hours, with Head of Academic Affairs, online or in person
• Online visibility as a NIAS Fellow (see for example Food for Thought)
• Active online participation is mandatory

Services provided:

• Printing service
• Library service
• ICT service
• Warm lunches
• Facilities provided to improve working from home

Scenario 4. Controlled opening for all fellows, staff members and visitors

This scenario will be valid once the Dutch government allows gatherings of more than 25 persons in public again, thereby taking into account 1,5 meter distance. This scenario offers a primarily physical NIAS environment, almost back to ‘normal’.

General

• Stay 1.5 metres (2 arms lengths) away from other people
• If you have mild cold-like symptoms, such as a sore throat, a runny nose, sneezing, a mild cough or a fever below 38 degrees Celsius, you should stay at home until you are fully recovered
• If you have cold-like symptoms and a fever above 38 degrees Celsius and/or shortness of breath, stay at home until you are fully recovered. Others in your household must stay at home too
• If you have an underlying health condition, stay at home
• Wash your hands often: before you go out, when you come home, when you enter the NIAS building, before meals and after going to the toilet. Disinfect your working space upon arrival and when leaving

In this scenario, the NIAS Fellowship entails the following:

• All fellows and staff members are allowed to work in their office (with a maximum of 55 persons in the building)
• Regular opening hours from 8 am to 8 pm
• Guests need permission from the NIAS directorate to enter the building
• Once or twice a week a seminar with work-in-progress presentations by fellows, in the conference room. Fellows group will be divided in two, weekly changing, sub-groups.
• Smaller seminars and workshops on specific topics
• Academic events in hybrid forms and onsite
• Three weekly Open Office Hours with Head of Academic Affairs
• Social activities organized by Fellows Committee and NIAS
• Active participation in the weekly seminars are mandatory

Services provided:

• Printing service
• Library service
• ICT service
• Warm lunches. Fellows group will be divided in two, weekly changing, sub-groups
• Facilities provided to improve working from home
• Tuesday Afternoon Tea in the attic
• Thursday Drinks (after the seminar) in the attic

General

At all times, the Royal Academy of Arts and Science (KNAW) and NIAS Management can decide to shift to a more or less restricted scenario, which will ask for flexibility and cooperation of all fellows and staff members.

In case of a temporary lockdown, NIAS will return to the online-modes as described in scenarios 1. and 2., as long as Dutch governmental measures apply. During a lockdown period, foreign fellows can choose to return home or either stay at their NIAS accommodation.

Stipends and teaching replacement subsidies will be continued to be paid during a lockdown period, under the condition of remaining actively involved in the online NIAS activities.

As flexible as NIAS asks fellows to be, we will respond as flexible as possible to changes on fellows’ side. We are happy to think about alternative ways to make a NIAS fellowship possible, adjusted to personal circumstances. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.