Flight or flight? - How the coronavirus pandemic has affected scientists’ willingness to engage with the public

Flight or flight? - How the coronavirus pandemic has affected scientists’ willingness to engage with the public

During the coronavirus pandemic, scientists who worked to overcome the outbreak received recognition, but also opposition and even hostility. This article examines how the experience of the pandemic has affected the willingness of scientists to engage with the public. Derived from a comprehensive survey of 4207 scientists at German universities and research institutions, animosity towards scientists during the pandemic has created a sense of ins…