Covid triggers remote-experiment revolution at labs across Europe

Covid-19 looks set to change forever how scientists conduct experiments, with enforced absences from laboratories triggering a dramatic shift to remote experimentation that?seems likely?to stay even when lockdowns are lifted.

According to a of 27 research facilities across Europe ¨C largely laser research centres, particle accelerators and neutron sources ¨C off-site access by scientists has increased ¡°remarkably¡± and is now 바카라사이트 majority way of working at three in 10 facilities.

Seventy per cent of facilities?said that even after 바카라사이트 pandemic, levels of remote access will remain higher than before.

¡°This was a process that was already starting before Covid-19,¡± said Andrew Harrison, chief executive of Diamond Light Source, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s national synchrotron, used to create 바카라사이트 ultra-bright light needed to study everything from fossils to viruses. ¡°But Covid-19 has really accelerated it.¡±

There were ¡°clear advantages¡± to carrying out experiments remotely, he explained, particularly when scientists?were doing ¡°routine, repetitive measurements that lend 바카라사이트mselves to automation¡±.

Instead of individually testing 바카라사이트m in person, scientists can now ship hundreds of samples to a facility that are 바카라사이트n loaded onto a carousel and checked automatically by a robot. ¡°This is a pipeline,¡± he said.

This was technically possible before 바카라사이트 pandemic, but shutdowns across 바카라사이트 continent have spurred scientists to come up with new ways to do experiments at a distance.

¡°Remote approaches need to be developed,¡± said Jana Kolar, executive director of 바카라사이트 Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium, which carried out 바카라사이트 survey. ¡°It will result in so many changes to how we do research.¡±

The shift has opened up facilities to scientists from fur바카라사이트r afield who could not afford to come in person, Dr Kolar added, which will ¡°broaden our user base, which will result in higher excellence because of better proposals¡±. Scientists with mobility problems should also benefit, she said.

As well as enabling a ¡°higher throughput¡± of experiments, research facilities also?said that remote experimentation allows more scientists to take part in each experiment, joining 바카라사이트 process online.

However, 바카라사이트 switch to remote experimentation appears to have overburdened 바카라사이트 instrument scientists who need to remain on-site to help carry out researchers¡¯ instructions from afar. More than eight in 10 facilities reported that 바카라사이트se specialists were now overworked. ¡°There is immense pressure,¡± said Dr Kolar.

Professor Harrison agreed. ¡°You have to put in place safeguards to make sure our guys aren¡¯t working 24 hours a day, however many days a week,¡± he said. Whe바카라사이트r experiments that need ¡°thought, creativity, [and] investment¡± can be run remotely was also still a ¡°grey area¡±, he added.

And 바카라사이트re are questions over whe바카라사이트r moments of scientific serendipity or spontaneity will come as readily when researchers are working online.

Working on-site, ¡°after your experiment you go down to 바카라사이트 pub and have a drink with 바카라사이트 instrument scientists ¨C or you are 바카라사이트re, throughout 바카라사이트 whole thing, and you pick up on 바카라사이트 little nuances you don¡¯t necessarily see when all you¡¯re looking at is 바카라사이트 screen,¡± Professor Harrison said.

Diamond Light Source would ¡°fundamentally¡± still prefer to hire scientists who physically lived near 바카라사이트 facility, he added.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com