How Covid Changed Science

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

20220708

20220714 (R4)

The global Covid pandemic was a wake up call for the scientific community. With remarkable speed and agility a massive global effort was soon underway - to turn existing science to tackle the immediate threat of the pandemic and invent new science with a longer term aim of protecting the global population from the new pathogen.

The old ways of doing science' changed but was that entirely for the better and is such change permanent ?

Until 2020 developing a new drug took at least 15 years. Scientists by and large competed with each other, were somewhat secretive about their research and only shared their data once publication was secured. And the public and the press had no interest in the various early phases of clinical trials. An incremental scientific step possibly on the road to somewhere was simply not newsworthy. Face masks were the preserves of hypochondriacs in the Far East, with no scientific evidence base for their use.

Now the findings of research are published as soon as they are ready, often before they have been peer reviewed they are being openly discussed in social media.

This series documents the key changes in science which the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about.

The speed of research, collaboration between science and industry, and public perception of science are areas that have undergone incredible and likely permanent change. Devi Sridhar asks which of these changes increase or decrease the public's trust in science. And what the direction should be now for a more joined up global response to infectious disease.

Devi Sridhar, Professor of Global Health at Edinburgh University hears from scientists in a variety of fields, whose working lives and practices have been affected, in some cases revolutionised by the pandemic.

What has been the impact of Covid on the practice of science?

Professor Devi Sridhar investigates the impact of Covid on the practice of science.

Episode 1

20220708

The old ways of doing science' changed but was that entirely for the better and is such change permanent ?

Now the findings of research are published as soon as they are ready, often before they have been peer reviewed they are being openly discussed in social media.

This series documents the key changes in science which the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about.

What has been the impact of Covid on the practice of science?

Professor Devi Sridhar investigates the impact of Covid on the practice of science.

20220715

20220721 (R4)

In the Second of our series How Covid Changed Science, Devi Sridhar Professor of Global Health at Edinburgh University looks at the scientific messaging. Just how do you explain to both politicians and the public that a growing global pandemic is likely to kill many people, and unprecedented measures such as a nationwide lockdown are needed to prevent even more deaths. What information should be imparted and how?

Similarly how to address the clamour for information on the development of vaccines and other potential treatments when there often wasn't clarity? And with the rise of misinformation how did individual scientists who became the subject of conspiracy theories cope with being targeted?

In this programme we hear from scientists and politicians directly involved with the pandemic response. For some the experience of explaining their often highly technical research to the general public was a daunting experience. For others it became a mission to answer the publics concerns and fears.

Professor Devi Sridhar investigates the impact of Covid on the practice of science.

Episode 2

20220715

Professor Devi Sridhar investigates the impact of Covid on the practice of science.

20220722

20220728 (R4)

In the third and final part of our series How Covid Changed Science, Devi Sridhar Professor of Global Health at Edinburgh University looks at the legacy and lessons of the pandemic for scientific research. Tackling the virus became a global issue, but many have pointed out the inequality of both resources and effort in the response. Going forward do we need to be directing research more towards improving health and disease surveillance in less wealthy parts of the world, would investing there help prevent future pandemics?

Professor Devi Sridhar investigates the impact of Covid on the practice of science.

Episode 3

20220722

Professor Devi Sridhar investigates the impact of Covid on the practice of science.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01		20220708	20220714 (R4)	The global Covid pandemic was a wake up call for the scientific community. With remarkable speed and agility a massive global effort was soon underway - to turn existing science to tackle the immediate threat of the pandemic and invent new science with a longer term aim of protecting the global population from the new pathogen. The old ways of doing science' changed but was that entirely for the better and is such change permanent ? Until 2020 developing a new drug took at least 15 years. Scientists by and large competed with each other, were somewhat secretive about their research and only shared their data once publication was secured. And the public and the press had no interest in the various early phases of clinical trials. An incremental scientific step possibly on the road to somewhere was simply not newsworthy. Face masks were the preserves of hypochondriacs in the Far East, with no scientific evidence base for their use. Now the findings of research are published as soon as they are ready, often before they have been peer reviewed they are being openly discussed in social media. This series documents the key changes in science which the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about. The speed of research, collaboration between science and industry, and public perception of science are areas that have undergone incredible and likely permanent change. Devi Sridhar asks which of these changes increase or decrease the public's trust in science. And what the direction should be now for a more joined up global response to infectious disease. Devi Sridhar, Professor of Global Health at Edinburgh University hears from scientists in a variety of fields, whose working lives and practices have been affected, in some cases revolutionised by the pandemic. What has been the impact of Covid on the practice of science? Professor Devi Sridhar investigates the impact of Covid on the practice of science.
01	Episode 1	20220708		The global Covid pandemic was a wake up call for the scientific community. With remarkable speed and agility a massive global effort was soon underway - to turn existing science to tackle the immediate threat of the pandemic and invent new science with a longer term aim of protecting the global population from the new pathogen. The old ways of doing science' changed but was that entirely for the better and is such change permanent ? Until 2020 developing a new drug took at least 15 years. Scientists by and large competed with each other, were somewhat secretive about their research and only shared their data once publication was secured. And the public and the press had no interest in the various early phases of clinical trials. An incremental scientific step possibly on the road to somewhere was simply not newsworthy. Face masks were the preserves of hypochondriacs in the Far East, with no scientific evidence base for their use. Now the findings of research are published as soon as they are ready, often before they have been peer reviewed they are being openly discussed in social media. This series documents the key changes in science which the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about. The speed of research, collaboration between science and industry, and public perception of science are areas that have undergone incredible and likely permanent change. Devi Sridhar asks which of these changes increase or decrease the public's trust in science. And what the direction should be now for a more joined up global response to infectious disease. Devi Sridhar, Professor of Global Health at Edinburgh University hears from scientists in a variety of fields, whose working lives and practices have been affected, in some cases revolutionised by the pandemic. What has been the impact of Covid on the practice of science? Professor Devi Sridhar investigates the impact of Covid on the practice of science.
02		20220715	20220721 (R4)	In the Second of our series How Covid Changed Science, Devi Sridhar Professor of Global Health at Edinburgh University looks at the scientific messaging. Just how do you explain to both politicians and the public that a growing global pandemic is likely to kill many people, and unprecedented measures such as a nationwide lockdown are needed to prevent even more deaths. What information should be imparted and how? Similarly how to address the clamour for information on the development of vaccines and other potential treatments when there often wasn't clarity? And with the rise of misinformation how did individual scientists who became the subject of conspiracy theories cope with being targeted? In this programme we hear from scientists and politicians directly involved with the pandemic response. For some the experience of explaining their often highly technical research to the general public was a daunting experience. For others it became a mission to answer the publics concerns and fears. Professor Devi Sridhar investigates the impact of Covid on the practice of science.
02	Episode 2	20220715		In the Second of our series How Covid Changed Science, Devi Sridhar Professor of Global Health at Edinburgh University looks at the scientific messaging. Just how do you explain to both politicians and the public that a growing global pandemic is likely to kill many people, and unprecedented measures such as a nationwide lockdown are needed to prevent even more deaths. What information should be imparted and how? Similarly how to address the clamour for information on the development of vaccines and other potential treatments when there often wasn't clarity? And with the rise of misinformation how did individual scientists who became the subject of conspiracy theories cope with being targeted? In this programme we hear from scientists and politicians directly involved with the pandemic response. For some the experience of explaining their often highly technical research to the general public was a daunting experience. For others it became a mission to answer the publics concerns and fears. Professor Devi Sridhar investigates the impact of Covid on the practice of science.
03		20220722	20220728 (R4)	In the third and final part of our series How Covid Changed Science, Devi Sridhar Professor of Global Health at Edinburgh University looks at the legacy and lessons of the pandemic for scientific research. Tackling the virus became a global issue, but many have pointed out the inequality of both resources and effort in the response. Going forward do we need to be directing research more towards improving health and disease surveillance in less wealthy parts of the world, would investing there help prevent future pandemics? Professor Devi Sridhar investigates the impact of Covid on the practice of science.
03	Episode 3	20220722		In the third and final part of our series How Covid Changed Science, Devi Sridhar Professor of Global Health at Edinburgh University looks at the legacy and lessons of the pandemic for scientific research. Tackling the virus became a global issue, but many have pointed out the inequality of both resources and effort in the response. Going forward do we need to be directing research more towards improving health and disease surveillance in less wealthy parts of the world, would investing there help prevent future pandemics? Professor Devi Sridhar investigates the impact of Covid on the practice of science.