Essay Sample on Adapting to a New Normal: The Challenges of Life Science Research During COVID-19

Work in the field of science in this era of Covid-19 is in continuous flux. Besides, the flux is not only in science but also in all other fields as new restrictions are being imposed daily. People's life changed drastically, and everybody is now trying to cope with the new normal. In the field of life science, researchers find it difficult to do their work compared to how they felt their work a few months ago. With partial or total lockdown in some parts of the world, life science has been greatly and rapidly affected by the health crisis caused by Covid-19. Today, most scientists may feel stuck as they cannot carry on their research experiments due to restrictions. Also, others may be forced to look after their children due to Covid-19 related school closure (Geib). The frightening feeling, especially to young and upcoming scientists, has led to great worries about their future careers. Therefore, the Covid-19 health crisis has led to many challenges in the field of life science, especially in experiments, research, and the fate of the scientists' future career.

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In most laboratories, experiments are being delayed, or some scientists shift their gears to developing therapeutics or vaccines which target the Covid-19. At the same time, scientists from all fields of biology are operating at a frenetic speed to develop faster diagnostic tests and vaccines for combating the virus (Korbel). A lot of technological developments have been witnessed since the 17th Century, as science is now connected globally. Moreover, there is increased collaboration between scientists from different fields of life science. Furthermore, one can work with a computer from home and connect with from any part of the globe through teleconferencing, video conferencing, or any other platform that offers conferencing services. Collaboration among scientists is facilitated through electronic communication, which facilitates data analysis (Korbel). Also, online activities like seminars, training activities, and workshops on different topics can be held.

Interestingly, some scientists like those in virology, cell molecular, microbiologists, and others have begun working from home at this hard time of curfew and lockdown. In fact, during the 1665 plague outbreak when Isaac Newton was forced to work from home, this was the time when he developed the groundbreaking scientific work (Korbel). Therefore, despite the partial or complete shutdown in most institutions, scientists must ensure that they maintain collaborative engagements in activities geared against Covid-19. These activities include all studies about the biological make and the evolution of the Covid-19 virus, pathogenesis, and epidemiology (Geib). More so, the research extends to host genetics and response to the virus. Therefore, the research involved is very broad and demands input from experts and professionals from different fields of science. Connecting experts from different fields are thus vital in combating Covid-19.

When the pandemic's effects became noticeable in early March, many scientists were affected, and their schedules and activities changed immediately. For example, Olga Ovchinnikova, PhD., senior scientist in Oak Ridge national labs, noted a drop in the number of visitors, although Tennessee had relatively few Covid-19 cases at that time. Another example of the pandemic's inconveniences is that of Douglas Lake, Ph.D., whose schedule to present data at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) was canceled. The meeting was expected to be very beneficial to the Sapphire Biotech in many regards because AACR is an essential gathering of many brands and people in cancer research, therapeutics, and diagnostics. Catalina Valencia believed that Sapphire Biotech would have generated widespread interest from the companies and people at the conference.

The confusion experienced throughout the societies has led to the disruption in routines in most workplaces. However, researchers have extra time to proceed with their research, citing that meetings and travels have been canceled. Therefore, scientists are seen to have more time to focus on future tasks and reduce the delays that may have been experienced at a later date. Success, however, demands that individual scientists be flexible and resilient. It is a challenge to conduct meetings via video conferencing as it is not the same as conducting face to face meetings. The picture is not entirely unwelcoming because if well balanced, employers can allow their workers to operate from home and still succeed.

Contrary to having more time, the need to work from home has slowed research and productivity from many scientists, especially those who lack enough facilities from their homes (Geib). Banning of all public gatherings and limiting all meetings to a maximum of ten people in the United States and other parts of the world, the field of life science is greatly affected. Besides, limiting the number of people in a meeting means that the physical and social distancing rule must be followed, and thus the researchers must sit farther away from each other. The distancing hinders the sharing of ideas, brainstorming, and possibly innovation.

Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic poses other challenges to life scientists and researchers in general, especially in obtaining supplies and research materials for their work. Shipment and delivery of vital lab supplies have been delayed or canceled in some instances. Research shows that 77% of life scientists have their institutes shut, and only the staffs who offer essential services are allowed to report to work (Korbel). Further, 19% reported partial operations, with only below 50% of the institution being operational (Korbel). This cessation has left many scientists stranded, having more logistical headaches and uncertain about the future. As sponsors reach their completion deadlines and researchers miss these dates, this temporary crisis of Covid-19 is expected to leave a permanent mark in the research community.

Also, the life and career progress of students and junior researchers who depend on fieldwork to learn and develop important skills and also to collect data that would help them begin their research is now blocked. I, therefore, believe that Covid-19 is creating an indirect problem scientific know-how in the future. Besides, society is now in acute need that requires the input of good science. I life scientists to be very empathetic with the health of people who are struggling during this period faced with the health crisis. A time like now when human health is at stake, the daring priority should be on research (Geib). More so, the nature of most fieldwork makes it difficult to reschedule around delays. It is difficult to reschedule fieldwork because the events that the scientists want to study may end before if the research data is pushed. Besides, in thinking about the future of scientific work, communal sacrifice is inevitable at this time. It is also necessary to interrupt normal habits to save lives. Also, I believe that the personal lives of life scientists have been affected. Those living in foreign countries are more likely to be affected compared to those in their mother country.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Covid-19 has varied impacts on the scientific system concerning patterns of scientific communication, collaboration, and training. In all career stages, video conferencing has gained popularity in running meetings and meeting collaborators. As a consequence, the Covid-19 pandemic is ideally expected to change the future of life science and research as people are likely to become more innovative and come up with long-lasting solutions to the challenges posed in this field. More scientists are also seen to devote more time to the lockdown towards data analysis, although the research time has technically reduced.

Works Cited

Korbel, Jan O., and Oliver Stegle. "Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on life scientists." (2020): 1-5.www.doi.org/10.1186/s13059-020-02031-1

Geib, C. “The Long-Term Effects of Covid-19 on Field science”. Undark, 2020, www.undark.org/2020/03/31/coronavirus-science-long-term-effects/. Accessed 3 July.2020.