HUGE SURVEY REVEALS PRESSURES OF SCIENTISTS' LIVES

Abstract

Around 80% of the survey's participants - mostly academic researchers in the United Kingdom - believed that competition had fostered mean or aggressive working conditions, and half described struggles with depression or anxiety. Most researchers reported having pride in their institutions and passion for their work, but spoke of the high personal toll of their environment (see 'Cost of the culture'). Many blamed funders and institutes that emphasize performance indicators and metrics such as number of publications and the impact factors ofjournals in which researchers publish.