Janet Bowstead, one of our Data Impact Fellows, discusses how networking opportunities, a vital part of developing research and impact communities, have been changed by Covid-19.
After a year of complying with restrictions to greece rcs data try to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we have all been thinking about our contacts with other people. Thinking about what we touch, how close we pass other people, how we share space, and how far our breath can travel.
We have become familiar with the phrase “socially distanced” as well as the criticism that it should be more about being “physically distanced” whilst making sure we do our best to continue to be a social species – with all that is positive about societal connections.
social distancing stencil on ground
Image: Social distancing stencil on ground
We have re-thought all our ways of connecting: what is possible online and virtually, what we need to do live – in real time – and what we can record and repeat.
Some online ‘meetings’ are positive interactions – enabling connections across time zones that would not be possible if we needed to travel to meet. But others can feel very isolated – unconnected – especially when the technology lets us down. After over a year, we are becoming more aware of the limitations to new connections – people we have never actually met – and other connections that have been difficult to maintain at their previous depth. The past year has changed so many of our relationships.