Returning to research requires planning and patience

A gradual approach is needed to get research back on the rails, says Ross McLennan

In mid-March, as the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic became clear, organisations around the world realised that the traditional way of working, with all employees attending shared spaces, had to be suspended.

Research institutions were not immune to this. Facilities were stripped down to all but essential activities and researchers were forced to abandon projects, in some instances terminating them entirely. Travel restrictions impeded access to conferences and collaborative teams, removing the ability to undertake fieldwork both locally and abroad.