Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on scientists' productivity in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and medicine fields.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Springer Nature Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101772751 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2662-9992 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 26629992 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Humanit Soc Sci Commun Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: London : Springer Nature
    • Abstract:
      While studies suggested adverse impacts of COVID-19 on scientific outputs and work routines for scientists, more evidence is required to understand detailed obstacles challenging scientists' work and productivity during the pandemic, including how different people are affected (e.g., by gender). This online survey-based thematic analysis investigated how the pandemic affected scientists' perception of scientific and academic productivity in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and medicine fields. The analysis examined if inequitable changes in duties and responsibilities for caregiving for children, family, and/or households exist between scientists who are mothers compared to scientists who are fathers or non-parents. The survey collected data from 2548 survey responses in six languages across 132 countries. Results indicate that many scientists suffered from delays and restrictions on research activities and administrations due to the lockdown of institutions, as well as increased workloads from adapting to online teaching environment. Caregiving responsibility for children and family increased, which compromised time for academic efforts, especially due to the temporary shutdown of social supports. Higher percentages of female parent participants than male parent participants expressed such increased burdens indicating unequal divisions of caregiving between women and men. A range of physical and mental health issues was identified mainly due to overworking and isolation. Despite numerous obstacles, some participants reported advantages during the pandemic including the efficiency of online teaching, increased funding for COVID-related research, application of alternative research methodologies, and fluidity of the workday from not commuting. Findings imply the need for rapid institutional support to aid various academic activities and diminish gender inequity in career development among academicians, highlighting how crisis can exacerbate existing inequalities.
      Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests.
      (© The Author(s) 2022.)
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    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: Education; Environmental studies
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20221219 Latest Revision: 20240908
    • Publication Date:
      20250114
    • Accession Number:
      PMC9734604
    • Accession Number:
      10.1057/s41599-022-01466-0
    • Accession Number:
      36530543