Dear Colleagues and Friends,
 
I hope this email finds you and your families well in these challenging times.
 
I am writing to update you on the US Centre’s activities in this rapidly changing landscape due to the coronavirus pandemic.
 
The US Centre suspended all in-person events at the beginning of March. Our expectation remains that this suspension will remain in force for some time.  Like other universities, the LSE has moved all of its teaching-related activities on-line and is assessing the situation on a on-going basis with guidance from public health authorities.  
 
All of that said, the US Centre remains very active on-line and is exploring new ways to provide timely analysis and commentary about the United States.  With the US now rapidly becoming the new epicenter of the pandemic, this is more important than ever.  We are looking at the possibility of moving the remaining Phelan Family Lecture by Prof. Angus Deaton (Princeton) and Prof. Joesph Nye (Harvard) on line. We have also stepped up on-line commentary on the US Centre blog about the effects of the pandemic on American society and politics, and are commissioning new pieces daily.  
 
Our faculty affiliates and undergraduate research assistants have responded to the situation in innovative ways, moving their regular face-to-face meetings on-line via Zoom and other platforms. The PhD students who have been awarded summer research grants have been forced to postpone plans to travel to the United States to conduct field research, but we are working closely with them to insure that they will be able to take full advantage of these opportunities in the future. Our podcast series continues to add new content each month even as we are actively rescheduling our “brick-and-mortar” seminar series and workshops for next year. 
 
I trust you are staying safe. In these trying times, the US Centre is glad to have you as part of our community. Please let us know if you have any thoughts or suggestions about what we might be doing during to respond creatively and meaningfully to this fast-changing situation.
 
Best wishes,