While technology and collaboration have made it possible for many people to consider skipping their commute altogether, Jane Kennedy It looks at people whose only option is to work outside the lab and why we should create a place where talent can be nurtured.
While the pandemic has undoubtedly brought life sciences to greater prominence, we must also consider the human impact it has on the ‘invisible frontline workers’ who drive the medical advances we take for granted.
The life sciences industry put in a hard effort developing and rolling out vaccines at a rapid pace, but our scientists are human beings first and foremost. The pressure and scrutiny that many of our people have been subjected to over the past two years is intense.
While NHS staff, in care homes, charities, supermarkets and many others, are celebrated as the key cog in the machine to keep the country running, I want to commend those who are not visible – person continues is working tirelessly to advance science, treatments and remedies.
This is where the life science community really comes into its own. Collaboration may be a word that has been casually thrown around, but it is something that Science Park employees and resident companies live and breathe. We work closely with our tenant companies to achieve common goals, foster change, share knowledge and, above all, support each other
The life sciences industry put in a hard effort developing and rolling out vaccines at a rapid pace, but our scientists are human beings first and foremost. The stress and scrutiny that so many of our people have gone through over the past two years is intense.
The pandemic also provided me with a positive career opportunity that might not have been available in the world before the pandemic. I had to commute between Edinburgh and my home in Kent to land a role in Discovery Park last year. It would be hard to imagine BC (before covid) playing this role, but technology and collaboration have made it possible. However, for many people in the life sciences industry, a lab is the only place they can work from – so working from home is not an option.
That’s why collaborative spaces like the Science and Innovation Park provide such a healthy environment for our region to thrive. I think it’s so important that we continue to create places where we can nurture exciting new talent, collaborate for success, and make our people feel part of a broad, very special community.
