Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) researchers in India [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the nationally mandated lockdown has resulted in facility closures, decreased laboratory activities, and shifting to remote working. The effects of the pandemic have spread across all professions, including academia. Hence, the present...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wellcome
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Wellcome Open Research |
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| Online Access: | https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/7-157/v2 |
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| author | Deepa Subramanyam Anirudh Tagat Nikita Mehta Arathy Puthillam Vedika Inamdar Hansika Kapoor Shivani Chunekar |
| author_facet | Deepa Subramanyam Anirudh Tagat Nikita Mehta Arathy Puthillam Vedika Inamdar Hansika Kapoor Shivani Chunekar |
| author_sort | Deepa Subramanyam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the nationally mandated lockdown has resulted in facility closures, decreased laboratory activities, and shifting to remote working. The effects of the pandemic have spread across all professions, including academia. Hence, the present study aims to understand the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) researchers and stakeholders in India. Methods: The study employed a mixed method design. Both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interview) methods were used to gain a comprehensive understanding on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) early career researchers (ECRs), graduate students, Heads of Institutes, suppliers of scientific equipment, funders, and other stakeholders in India. Results: A total of 618 researchers completed the survey, and 24 stakeholders were interviewed for this study. Our findings highlight the importance of institutional and social support for mental well-being and scientific productivity among researchers, especially during the pandemic. It also shows the impact of the disruptions in grant disbursals on research activities of scientists. Further, the gendered impact between these relationships was also noted, all of which hint at a need for structured reform within STEM. Conclusions: The study highlights the various challenges faced by early career researchers, and STEM scientists at various positions in their careers during the COVID-19 restrictions in India. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:20:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-74fc2a6860c4490093a8df83114bec4b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2398-502X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:20:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Wellcome |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wellcome Open Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-74fc2a6860c4490093a8df83114bec4b2023-08-26T01:00:01ZengWellcomeWellcome Open Research2398-502X2023-07-01721674Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) researchers in India [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]Deepa Subramanyam0Anirudh Tagat1Nikita Mehta2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6208-747XArathy Puthillam3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2426-8362Vedika Inamdar4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9842-2927Hansika Kapoor5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0805-7752Shivani Chunekar6National Centre for Cell Science, SP Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, IndiaDepartment of Economics, Monk Prayogshala, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400072, IndiaDepartment of Psychology, Monk Prayogshala, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400072, IndiaDepartment of Psychology, Monk Prayogshala, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400072, IndiaDepartment of Sociology, Monk Prayogshala, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400072, IndiaDepartment of Psychology, Monk Prayogshala, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400072, IndiaDepartment of Sociology, Monk Prayogshala, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400072, IndiaBackground: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the nationally mandated lockdown has resulted in facility closures, decreased laboratory activities, and shifting to remote working. The effects of the pandemic have spread across all professions, including academia. Hence, the present study aims to understand the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) researchers and stakeholders in India. Methods: The study employed a mixed method design. Both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interview) methods were used to gain a comprehensive understanding on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) early career researchers (ECRs), graduate students, Heads of Institutes, suppliers of scientific equipment, funders, and other stakeholders in India. Results: A total of 618 researchers completed the survey, and 24 stakeholders were interviewed for this study. Our findings highlight the importance of institutional and social support for mental well-being and scientific productivity among researchers, especially during the pandemic. It also shows the impact of the disruptions in grant disbursals on research activities of scientists. Further, the gendered impact between these relationships was also noted, all of which hint at a need for structured reform within STEM. Conclusions: The study highlights the various challenges faced by early career researchers, and STEM scientists at various positions in their careers during the COVID-19 restrictions in India.https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/7-157/v2COVID-19 STEM researchers gender health productivity disruptioneng |
| spellingShingle | Deepa Subramanyam Anirudh Tagat Nikita Mehta Arathy Puthillam Vedika Inamdar Hansika Kapoor Shivani Chunekar Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) researchers in India [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] Wellcome Open Research COVID-19 STEM researchers gender health productivity disruption eng |
| title | Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) researchers in India [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_full | Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) researchers in India [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) researchers in India [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) researchers in India [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_short | Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) researchers in India [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_sort | assessing the impact of covid 19 on stem science technology engineering mathematics researchers in india version 2 peer review 2 approved |
| topic | COVID-19 STEM researchers gender health productivity disruption eng |
| url | https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/7-157/v2 |
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