Welcome to PopEcol!
Welcome to the group! Here are the practical things worth knowing in your first weeks.
More guides for group members (on updating the website, funding and thesis writing) are collected in PopEcol Documents. A shortcut from the website: click the “L” of the POPECOL banner.
Online group communication
We use Slack. If you haven’t yet joined our Slack workspace, ask your supervisor for an invitation. You can open Slack in the web browser or the Slack app. Our main communication channel is #popecol.
For video conferences, we use Zoom. Our main Zoom room is popecol.org/zoom. If it’s in use, try popecol.org/zoom2. Zoom asks for a passcode: ask any group member for it. 🥐
All things admin
Our admin assistant is Judith Baumgartner. Judith works for different groups within the department. You can find her in room Y38-M-16.
Group meetings
We meet every Tuesday at 9 am in room Y19-M-98. If you can’t make it in person, you can join via Zoom.
Group calendar
To keep everyone informed, we maintain a Google calendar. Please add your absences (home office, conferences, workshops, field trips, holidays, sick leave, etc.) and events relevant to the group (internal talks, academic visitors, etc.).
To access the calendar, ask Judith for an email invitation. Let her know the email address you use to log in to your Google account (if the invitation is sent to another email address, you won’t be able to access the calendar).
Group website
All group members are encouraged to have a personal page on our website. To add or update yours, post in the #website channel on Slack and mention @Claude; the guide for updating popecol.org explains what to send.
Group server
We have our own local server for computing (RStudio Server and a job queue for long or heavy jobs), set up and run by Tim Vink. To get an account, sign up at accounts.int.popecol.org and say in a line what you need it for; an admin approves it. Before your first big job, read the short documentation. These addresses work on the UZH network and through the UZH VPN; for access from elsewhere, ask in the Slack channel #intranet, where you can also ask any questions.
Group library
We curate a scientific library with over 500 titles in print and e-book. The e-books are on the department’s file server (go to Groups > Ozgul > PopEcol_Library).
Scientific activities & achievements
To keep track of our scientific activities and achievements (presentations, grants, etc.), we maintain a Google spreadsheet. Where applicable, please enter your activities and achievements; the information will be used to compile the annual reports.
Courses & workshops
The Google spreadsheet on scientific activities and achievements also contains information on useful courses and workshops.
Journal & book club
Every week, we meet to ‘talk science’. Time, place, and text are announced in #journal_club on Slack.
Seminars
The department’s seminar programme lists upcoming speakers.
Working hours & home office
We generally work 9:00–17:00, but there’s flexibility depending on individual schedules and commitments.
Everyone is welcome to work from home one day a week. Just add your home office day to the group calendar. If you’d like to work remotely for a second day, please check with Judith or Arpat first.
If you’re sick, take good care of yourself and focus on getting better! Just let Judith or Arpat know and mark your absence in the calendar.
If plans change, update the calendar and give Judith or Arpat a heads-up.
The idea is simply to keep everyone in the loop and make working together easier.
Social activities
Every year in May, sporty group members and friends of PopEcol participate as Residuals in the SOLA-Stafette, a relay race in and around the city of Zurich. If you are interested in participating, join the Slack channel #sola.
Other social activities may be announced via the Slack channel #social; some activities have dedicated channels (e.g., #birding, #ecothlon).