in research
Elsevier has partnered with leading science organizations and Economist Impact for a global collaboration to understand the impact of the pandemic on confidence in research — and identify areas for action to support researchers.

Elsevier CEO Kumsal Bayazit introduces the initiative
About the
Confidence in Research
initiative
The pandemic has transformed the scientific endeavor in many ways, giving it greater prominence and recognition but also creating higher expectations around pace and certainty. The urgency of the global health crisis spurred open science and data sharing, with rapid assessments resulting in quick breakthroughs that saved millions of lives and made household names of previously unknown scientists. Researchers also took to social media in greater numbers to share findings, collaborate across disciplines and help unpack the complexities of the pandemic to a concerned public.
For researchers, heightened expectations have brought challenges as well: navigating huge quantities of information, finding relevant research, knowing what can be relied upon and tying together quality insights has become harder for researchers. The practice of science is complex, it can be messy; research is about experimentation, testing and refining hypotheses — yet the public, policymakers and the media increasingly want certainty, simple stories and clear conclusions.

Community
Perspectives
The pandemic has brought significant and enduring challenges for the research community. How will it respond?
Read about
Roundtables
in the US, Germany, Japan,
UK and China
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5 takeaways from Germany’s Confidence in Research Roundtable

Insights from China's research community

Roundtable focuses on meeting emerging needs of US researchers

6 insights from Japan's Confidence in Research Roundtable

Confidence in Research: 6 key takeaways from the UK roundtable
Watch
confidence in research
discussions
from around the world
Continuing the conversation on Confidence in Research
From a
researcher's perspective
For political and data scientist Dr Michael Bossetta, research is bound up in emotion: he focuses on how social media audiences respond to the emotions politicians present through images.
Peer review is its own kind of journey. When that email comes in ... it can take a little while to separate your emotions from what’s best for the research.

From the front
lines of public
Health education
What lessons can we apply from the last two pandemics? A microbiologist and infectious disease expert weighs in.
We must improve the dissemination of accurate information. In fact, social media and the new order of instant information exchange can be powerful weapons in our war on disease. However, we need to ask for and demand perspective.

More perspectives
on confidence in research

When being wrong is a good thing for science

“It’s a learning journey for humanity” — NASA Space Scientist Jack Lissauer

What’s next for researchers? Five key trends for librarians

The future of research revealed

Science is the business of uncertainty
Events
Elsevier is holding roundtables with six Regional Convening Partners in the Netherlands, Germany, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
We ask members of the research community what helps build their confidence in research and how researchers can be better supported as a result of the pandemic. You can watch the roundtables in the Community Perspectives section.
In the
media
Podcasts
Podcast on Spotify: Interview with Anne Kitson
Podcast on Apple Podcasts: Interview with Anne Kitson
Podcast on Velocity of Content: Interview with Anne Kitson