Caution reigns despite government advice that scientific laboratories ‘should be open’
Several researchers have told Research Professional News that they do not expect to return to their labs immediately, despite the government’s attempt to reopen parts of the economy this week, including research facilities.
Their comments come as some universities say they have been given “far too short notice” to get their staff back to labs and others are only starting to work on measures to do so.
Prime minister Boris Johnson said on 10 May that “all workers who cannot work from home should travel to work if their workplace is open” from 13 May. Scientific labs were specifically singled out by the government as workplaces that should be open.
But across the country, few researchers seem to be rushing back to their benches.
For example, Rebekah Penrice-Randal, a PhD student at the Institute of Infection and Global Health at the University of Liverpool, said there have been no changes there, with “only key workers and scientists involved in the Covid-19 research” going to labs.
Another university researcher, who requested anonymity, said his department was planning a return at “significantly reduced capacity due to the requirement for 50 per cent occupancy so that people are correctly distanced”.
And while administrators struggle with how to get his team back to their building, his ability to work from home is increasingly running out. “Once our current results are fully written up, which is about now, we have nothing useful to work on,” he said.
Many other researchers across England reported that little had immediately changed in response to Johnson’s statement, with only key workers and those involved in Covid-19 research heading back to work. There has been no immediate change of advice from national governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Michael Cowley, a synthetic inorganic chemist at the University of Edinburgh who is still not back at the lab, said: “In projects that are primarily experimental, the shutdown has had a serious negative effect. Many of these projects will also take weeks to restart and get back to the ‘scientific front line’.
“My biggest concern is for the postdocs, early-career researchers and PhD students who have lost weeks and months of progress on their projects because of this. We have to act to make sure their careers and studies are not jeopardised by ensuring that we can fund everyone for an extension equal to the time lost.”