A research project by the Young Academy and the Dutch Network of Women Professors focuses on the question "What is the impact of COVID-19 on Dutch academia". Academics reported spending less time on average on research and more time on teaching during lockdown. These effects differed across groups. The decrease in research was especially seen among academics with young children and child care responsibilities. Young academics were most worried and uncertain about their future in academia and reported very high stress levels. Read the entire report here.

More and more evidence shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has hit female researchers, especially those with children, exceptionally hard.

doi:10.1126/science.371.6530.660 Pandemic hit academic mothers hard, data show. Science, 371 (6530), 660. doi:10.1126/science.371.6530.660

A recently published study in Nature shows that during the pandemic, female scientists, especially those with young children, experienced a substantial decline in time devoted to research.

Read more about the study here.

Myers, K. R., Tham, W. Y., Yin, Y., et al. (2020). Unequal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on scientists. Nature Human Behaviour, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-020-0921-y

Increasing concern is being expressed about potential negative consequences of COVID-19 for women in academia combining work with family responsibilities (see for example here or here). Although some have signalled decreased research productivity of female scholars, reflected, for instance, by a decrease in preprints and new research projects, as well as a drop in early journal, article and working paper (see also here) submissions, we don’t yet know how serious or widespread these effects are.

We think it is important to collect and combine such evidence as it accumulates. In case you know of additional indicators, relevant data, or recent research findings, please share these with us via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..