The Coming Post-pandemic Revolution in Scientific Research — Observatory of Educational Innovation

The role that scientific research has played in policy-making during this pandemic is undeniable. Thanks to the collaborative work that researchers and health professionals have been carrying out, we have taken giant steps towards understanding the new pathogen in a matter of months. More than ever, the general public has looked to science with critical eyes to wait for answers and shape their expectations.

Now, researchers in the medical area have been sharing results on preprint sites at an unprecedented rate. It is believed that this could help avoid duplication of work and provide new opportunities in research. A study reports that, of the total number of articles related to COVID-19, about 40% have been published on these servers.

While the work that the researchers and other professionals have done to produce such a large number of manuscripts in so short a time is admirable, one must also consider the risks if these investigations were not being carried out under the rigors of high quality. "The immediate problem confronting the publication universe is the avalanche of articles and the need for them to be accessible," comments the researcher, Torres-Salinas.