During the COVID-19 crisis, AIBS has continued to support our clients, partners, and members in our collective efforts to promote informed decision-making that advances science for the benefit of society. We continue to work to help the biological sciences community respond the effects of disruptions arising from COVID-19, and to prepare for continued impact and effectiveness as we all prepare for new models of operation.
AIBS is proud to have:
- Helped science educators identify and develop resources to enable science instruction to continue in online formats.
- Worked with research funding organizations to support online/remote peer review of research proposals on such topics as emergency medicine.
- Worked with natural history museums, field stations, and other science organizations to identify the financial and other impacts they are experiencing.
- Shared coronavirus-related articles published in our journal, BioScience, with the public and researchers around the world.
- Produced podcasts that share information about zoonotic disease spread and how small biotech companies are working to develop COVID-19 tests and therapies (including the hurdles they encounter from supply chain issues and government regulation).
- Provided online professional development programs to help undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students continue their education and training.
- Shared information about research community needs with federal programs to ensure they address the short- and long-term needs of the scientific research and education enterprise in the United States.
We are now convening online discussions for leaders of AIBS member organizations to identify strategies, needs, and resources to build more resilient scientific societies and organizations. Key findings from these programs will be shared with our members and will be used to help inform discussions during our Strengthening the Bioeconomy meeting in December 2020.