From a crisis to an opportunity: Eight insights for doing science in the COVID-19 era and beyond

Julia Chacón-Labella, Mickey Boakye, Brian J. Enquist, William Farfan-Rios, Ragnhild Gya, Aud H. Halbritter, Sara L. Middleton, Jonathan von Oppen, Samuel Pastor-Ploskonka, Tanya Strydom, Vigdis Vandvik, Sonya R. Geange

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The COVID-19 crisis has forced researchers in Ecology to change the way we work almost overnight. Nonetheless, the pandemic has provided us with several novel components for a new way of conducting science. In this perspective piece, we summarize eight central insights that are helping us, as early career researchers, navigate the uncertainties, fears, and challenges of advancing science during the COVID-19 pandemic. We highlight how innovative, collaborative, and often Open Science-driven developments that have arisen from this crisis can form a blueprint for a community reinvention in academia. Our insights include personal approaches to managing our new reality, maintaining capacity to focus and resilience in our projects, and a variety of tools that facilitate remote collaboration. We also highlight how, at a community level, we can take advantage of online communication platforms for gaining accessibility to conferences and meetings, and for maintaining research networks and community engagement while promoting a more diverse and inclusive community. Overall, we are confident that these practices can support a more inclusive and kinder scientific culture for the longer term.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3588-3596
Number of pages9
JournalEcology and Evolution
Volume11
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2021

Keywords

  • data sharing
  • early career
  • inclusivity
  • networking
  • online collaboration
  • skill development

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecology
  • Nature and Landscape Conservation

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