Open AccessThe COVID-19 response illustrates that traditional academic reward structures and metrics do not reflect crucial contributions to modern science
Author(s) -
Adam J. Kucharski,
Sebastian Funk,
Rosalind M Eggo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.127
H-Index - 271
eISSN - 1545-7885
pISSN - 1544-9173
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000913
Subject(s) - covid-19 , biology , dissemination , data science , pandemic , value (mathematics) , work (physics) , open science , engineering ethics , sustainability , computer science , ecology , engineering , virology , medicine , mechanical engineering , telecommunications , physics , disease , pathology , machine learning , astronomy , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The COVID-19 pandemic has motivated many open and collaborative analytical research projects with real-world impact. However, despite their value, such activities are generally overlooked by traditional academic metrics. Science is ultimately improved by analytical work, whether ensuring reproducible and well-documented code to accompany papers, developing and maintaining flexible tools, sharing and curating data, or disseminating analysis to wider audiences. To increase the impact and sustainability of modern science, it will be crucial to ensure these analytical activities—and the people who do them—are valued in academia.