In spring 2020, as the novel coronavirus swept the globe, ResearchGate released a COVID-19 Impact Report. It provided insights about how the international scientific community was being impacted in those early days of the pandemic — in particular, how researchers’ work was being affected.
Amidst the collective fear and uncertainty, there was no way of forecasting the implications of the virus on our professional and personal lives: from the historically staggering rate of vaccine development and testing; to the increased public attention on science, with vaccine researchers lionized in the media; to the horrible human toll, with millions of lives cut short — all amid growing concerns about the development of new mutations of the virus.
In February, as we were approaching the one-year anniversary of national lockdowns through America and Europe, we surveyed 2000 registered scientists and researchers across the globe to understand how the ongoing social-distancing and lockdown measures are continuing to impact their work. Unsurprisingly, 97% of respondents report their research work has been affected, while 50% report a significant impact. Despite considerable changes in ways of working, scientists are continuing to find ways to remain productive.
This new report shines a light on researchers’ experiences of how the pandemic has changed the way they work, with first-hand accounts and aggregate data from the frontlines of science around the world. Ultimately, we hope this report provides a barometer for the current moment, and points to shifts in the way scientific research is produced, disseminated, and consumed.
If you’d like a deeper dive into the report, please watch this 12-minute webinar recording, featuring ResearchGate team members Max, scientific communicator, and Mateja, a trained molecular biologist.
