Covid-19 impacts on early-career researchers
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, numerous conferences, workshops, fieldwork and other research-related events were postponed or cancelled. Here at the Young Ecosystem Services Specialists network (YESS), we wanted to know in a snapshot if and what impacts conference postponement or cancelling had on our members, who are early-career researchers (ECRs). Here are the results of our survey.
93% of respondents said they were affected by postponements, and 79% cannot present their research as planned. This scenario can lead to concerning outcomes.
Only 38% of respondents suspected a negative impact on their work (doctoral thesis, research) in the face of these cancellations and postponements. However, the main effect mentioned in this situation was the lack of networking opportunities for exchange and the establishment of future research collaborations.
This is precisely one of the most critical factors for future career development because international scientific cooperation is becoming increasingly important and is evident in the high numbers of multi-authored articles from different institutions and countries (1). Our survey results could, therefore, also indicate that respondents underestimate the importance of personal contacts in the academic field.
Other concerns were related to work delays and possible consequences for graduate funding, adding to the insecurity of an ECR.
What do early-career researchers need for the future?
Part of the answer is given by the respondents themselves, wishing that there would be opportunities for more online formats instead of ultimately cancelling or postponing conferences. This is especially concerning for doctoral students that are in the final phases of their research, when networking becomes so much more important, and cannot participate in important conferences that will allow personal and professional growth.
The respondents agree that online formats cannot replace direct personal exchange. But they do offer the opportunity to present one’s work and oneself as a person. In addition, an online format helps young researchers with limited funding opportunities to participate, since registration tends to be much cheaper and there are no costs with travel and accommodation.
With this in mind, we call for alternative opportunities for young researchers to contribute to academic exchanges. Purely online conferences may not be the answer, but we need to think about hybrid formats that allow participation in the scientific discourse. There are many ways to increase the visibility of ECRs in the scientific community, for example, the journal Cell Stem Cell has recently published 6 portraits of young researchers to give them the opportunity to present themselves (2). Within YESS, our members can introduce themselves via the newsletter, which has a broader public than the mailing list.
We are going through a profound crisis and we can’t be sure of all the consequences ECRs will soon face. However, what we can do is make the most of the tools we have at our hands.
So, let’s be creative and promote ourselves: via Twitter, a personal website, writing a blog post about your topic of research and share your activity in newsletters. We may be socially distant, but we hope you stay in touch!
Nina Kaiser & Giovanni Avila Flores, YESS Executive Team
Cited references:
- Ansmann, L. et al. Career development for early-career academics: Benefits of networking and the role of professional societies. Patient Educ. Couns. 97, 132–134 (2014).
- Introductions to the Community: Early-Career Researchers in the Time of COVID-19. Cell Stem Cell 26, 815–816 (2020).
