Thread by @WardHydro

Super excited to highlight this new pub from @CUAHSI Board & Officers on #COVID impacts on researchers in hydrologic sciences. A 🧵.

doi.org/10.1029/2021WR…

@CUAHSI Given:
(1) COVID-19 impacts on hydrologists (& researchers in general) are widespread, real, & continuing;
(2) Institutional adjustments (e.g., tenure clocks) may not mitigate all impacts of the pandemic;

@CUAHSI (3) Hydrologists’ careers & contributions are diverse. Consequently, COVID impacts on research activity will be variable;
(4) Moreover, hydrology values a diverse body of products and outcomes
(image below by @domciruzzi)

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi Aside: See @CUAHSI statement on holistic evaluation of research in the hydrologic sciences for a more comprehensive list of contributions, disruptions, & products valued in our field
doi.org/10.4211/hs.21e…

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi Given:
Early evidence of pandemic impacts on hydrologists: Drop in papers submitted to WRR since Q3-2020, an early signal of the lack of new research being completed during the pandemic.

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi More early evidence of pandemic impacts: precipitous declines in submittals to WRR relative to pre-pandemic norms.

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi NOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PART – HOW DO WE PROCEED AS A FIELD? It is our hope that this comment provides a citable basis to organize discussions and validate the impacts being reported by members of our community.

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi To those applying for positions, promotions, tenure:
Consider the breadth of impacts on your career, using this document as a basis to organize your thinking, particularly across the breadth of contributions and outcomes that exist in our discipline.

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi To those evaluating and hiring:
Evaluations should be written in the context of COVID-19 impact, acknowledging the acute and long-lasting impacts on the candidate.

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi To those evaluating and hiring:
In evaluation letters, consider it your obligation to discuss the hydrology-specific issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic that were faced by the candidate and contextualize these experiences in the discipline.

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi To those evaluating and hiring:
It is essential to highlight impacts that may not have been ubiquitous across all disciplines to educate review committees whose composition frequently spans a diverse array of intellectual backgrounds.

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi To review committees & senior faculty:
Take seriously the concerns raised by candidates & reviewers when you ask COVID-19 impact statments on research, teaching, mentoring, & service. Consider them with care & intent as impact statements require significant time & effort.

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi To academic & professional leaders:
Use your position to voice support for the inclusion of the full breadth of research products and contributions that are valued in our discipline and consider how COVID-19 impacted them.

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi To academic & professional leaders:
COVID-19 effects are non-uniform, meaning uniform policies may exacerbate inequalities. Focus on supporting groups that have been especially impacted, & taking care to address individuals' needs rather than applying generic, universal policies

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi To funding agencies:
Program officers should continue to proactively engage with their communities to understand pandemic impacts and identify creative ways to mitigate the impacts.

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi To funding agencies:
Future review panels must explicitly consider COVID-19 impacts as research progress, products, and experience by PIs may have been delayed or diminished.

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi Finally – while COVID-19 catalyzed this comment, these principles should guide the way we evaluate and value contributions from our field moving forward.

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi Commentary Team:
@BalesJerad, @AditiSBhaskar, @HydroLejo, @gilmore_H2O, @jesusgomezvelez, @FroudeNum, @highlyanne, @safeeqkhan, @SLedford_, @HydroecoLab, @GypsumRosie, @Ashok_Mishra_20, @snownolin, Jeanne VanBriesen, @Hydro_DoctorJ, @margaret_zimmer, + myself

@threadreaderapp unroll

@CUAHSI @domciruzzi @BalesJerad @AditiSBhaskar @HydroLejo @gilmore_H2O @jesusgomezvelez @FroudeNum @highlyanne @safeeqkhan @SLedford_ @HydroecoLab @GypsumRosie @Ashok_Mishra_20 @snownolin @Hydro_DoctorJ @margaret_zimmer Whoops, + Greg Characklis also!