Low-cost hospital tech, humane animal research, intricacies of scientific advice, and more
Australia and New Zealand
The University of Auckland has launched two student education centres in China that will combine online course material with group tutorials at Chinese universities, to provide a way to continue tertiary courses for more than 1,000 students who were unable to travel from China to New Zealand because of Covid-19 restrictions.
University of Canterbury engineers have developed a low-cost technology that will increase the capacity of hospitals to treat Covid-19 cases by allowing two patients to use the same ventilator.
Veterinary scientists from Charles Sturt University are to lead a three-year training programme to help prevent the spread of animal diseases in five Pacific Islands countries, given that the Covid-19 pandemic—which is thought to have originated from wildlife—has highlighted the importance of animal health education.
Australians aged 16 to 34 have experienced an increase in mental distress as a result of financial difficulties caused by Covid-19 restrictions, a survey by the Australian National University has found.
Europe
EU research ministers have said the bloc needs to increase its R&D investment as it recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The European Animal Research Association, which advocates for the humane use of animals in research, has written to EU leaders stressing how important such work is to tackling Covid-19.
The Amber research laboratory in Ireland has opened up a free consultancy service in support of companies or medical institutions that are attempting to develop technologies in the fight against Covid-19.
Universities in Finland will accept more students during the current application period, after an appeal to tackle unemployment in the aftermath of Covid-19 from Jari Gustafsson, a permanent secretary in the ministry of economic affairs and employment.
UK
The release of the minutes of meetings of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies on 29 May, unprecedented while an emergency is still ongoing, have provided a unique insight into the advisory group’s evolving thinking on Covid-19. Research Professional News has compiled a timeline of key mentions of issues related to research, including trials, diagnostics, drugs, vaccines, and data challenges. And here’s another one showing key mentions of research funders, universities—and Sage itself.
Higher education careers organisation Vitae has launched another survey looking at the impact of Covid-19 on researchers and the research base in the UK.