This is an invitation to the international scientific community!

This pandemic is terrifying and at the same time the greatest experiment in human history! There have been many technologies, ideas, natural disasters or diseases that have radically changed man and its environment, but only over time and in parts of the world. Calling this crisis an experiment is more than just a figure of speech, since the challenge is simultaneous and similar all over the world as are the countermeasures. If we accept the challenge, this crisis gives our powers of observation and analysis unprecedented reach. The human condition has reached a state of ceteris paribus, the crisis becomes a looking glass. Instead of a cage of desperation this crisis can be a laboratory of discovery.

Some will interrupt their research and apply their science to help prevent the worst and make people and institutions more resilient in the face of this threat, that will accompany us in waves, possibly for years to come. We can help all of us recover from the destruction faster and better. Finally, we can help envision a better world, science never had a more attentive audience.

Others will use this experiment to ask all the questions they never hoped to be able to answer. With the world on standstill, we can measure human disturbance, observe and measure without the noise (statistical and real) our global civilization emits. Psychologists for example can know study the effects of incarceration across all socioeconomic groups.

Some might want to make this research part of their teaching, such collaborative research can be an extraordinary learning experience and also make the best out of limited resources.

Speaking from a social science perspective, we need participant observers all over the place, we need to prepare surveys to interview key personnel. Some of the research will need to begin as soon as possible, before key processes and practices have ended without being observed and documented, data is lost, experiences are forgotten or suppressed.

We want to further this research in three ways:

o We want to collect as many research questions as possible from as many disciplines as possible and make them as accessible (tagged, categorized – easily searchable) and potent as we can by matching them with existing research roadmaps, calls-for papers and funding opportunities. See Ask a Research Question.

o We want to design an interdisciplinary research agenda, that is guided by our specific frame of analysis and focus while integrating the collected research questions as well as consolidating existing and ongoing research. See Research Agenda.

o We want to identify the expertise most needed right now and invite researchers, science journalists and practitioners to collaborate in summarizing, synthesizing and most importantly explaining the current state of research and practice to public officials as well as fellow scientists and journalists in the form of policy briefs. See Explaining the science.

Join us and suggest a research question, help us design an interdisciplinary research agenda, explain your science or in many other ways, see here for how you can help and contribute!