Newsmail #79, 2023-12-21
Dear all,
The last days before the holidays have been intensive. A lot of last-minute changes, many issues are to be closed before the end of the year and it’s tempting to wait until the last minute to make decisions, should more changes arrive.
In the management group we decided yesterday to go ahead with the relocation of the IPD unit offices, that IPD staff members relocate to the fourth floor and use offices there. The mechatronics unit and SKD unit will leave the rooms that have been least utilized during 2023 to IPD, but to enable IPD members to have offices close to each other, there will be some shuffling around. Unit managers will coordinate this shuffling, and, I believe, have already discussed this at the units. The timetable is not set, it will be based on needs at the units and coordination between units, but we plan to have everything in place by next summer.
We decided yesterday NOT to release the offices on the 3rd floor back to KTH. Instead we’ll investigate if we can shuffle around between our labs and HK rooms, and we will instead try to release the HK-rooms back to KTH and see if we can utilize the former IPD offices as HK rooms. This is based on discussions among the HK teachers, that these offices are more suitable than the current HK rooms.
The financial situation has improved greatly, only the last few days, thanks to a few individuals who brought in several new research grants the last week(s). Thanks to that, it’s not so crucial to release office space immediately, it’s more important to make long-term decisions on what kind of experimental facilities and student labs we need onwards. A recent study by Gunilla Ö-S regarding the use and utilization of our HK corridor shows that the need for team spaces in our building has decreased, we have less physical student projects, less students spending time in our building. This is something we really need to look into in 2024.
On Monday, at our annual Department Dinner, I mentioned a challenge I gave all MMK members. I repeat this now. When many of us, like myself, move into holiday-mode, turning focus from KTH towards family and friends, I want you to consider that this is a privilege that not everyone shares. The success of an organization can relate to how members are included in the organization, as true with a hockey-team as with a research group and a university. We all have some kind of responsibility for someone, some group(s). MSc-students, PhD-students, room-mates, fika-area-colleagues. Please consider the people around you and make an extra effort at making them feel included and involved.
With that said, if you will leave for the holidays, I wish you the best. If you stay at MMK to work, please enjoy the company of your colleagues.
Best,
Martin