Remote Academia: How to Stay Connected and Productive—Virtually

As governments and public health institutions worldwide have set social distancing and stay-at-home guidelines to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, building and maintaining virtual connections with family, friends, and colleagues has become increasingly important. As many of us have come to recognize, with reduced opportunities to spend time together in person, remaining socially and academically connected is challenging, especially as public interactions, laboratory access, and in-person scientific conferences have become considerably limited.

Digital tools can strengthen our real-world connections

As detailed in an article in Social Media + Society, it is important to understand that certain changes in digital media and communication are likely to outlast the pandemic, and therefore one should keep an open mind regarding shifts in communication styles as well as new virtual opportunities. Perhaps a small silver lining to the COVID-19 era exists: the virus is forcing us to use the internet as it was always meant to be used, that is, to connect with one another, share information and resources, and identify collective solutions to pressing problems. While this may be true in some aspects, remaining connected in academia throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has proved difficult for many scientists thus far, especially as networking opportunities appear less available with remote scientific conferences becoming the ‘new normal’.

What options exist for establishing virtual connections as an academic during these times (and the future)? We outline a few options below. Remember, actively participating in online culture is much better than passively consuming it. Research shows that people who use social media actively—by sending messages, leaving comments or participating in group chats—report being happier and feeling more connected than individuals who simply scroll through their feeds.