An introduction to our Covid-19 responses
As Covid-19 took hold, there was initially an unprecedented response in the academic community, including reinserting research expertise into Government, producing rapid expert reviews, speeding up the review process, stimulating open access, new fast track research calls and calls for journal special issues, but also equally important calls to pause academic activities and editorial responsibilities.
From initial fragmented and improvised responses, we then started to see more collective reflection on the appropriate reaction and longer-term research implications. How do we intervene in a rapidly changing context where there are severe constraints on our ability to undertake fieldwork? What can we say that is meaningful when we are still trying to make sense of the world around us?
In the Urban Institute, we have had several discussions around these issues and, in the spirit of contributing to wider debate, we outline our three main responses to date.
First, the Urban Convocation was designed to stimulate dialogue with colleagues and friends in over 20 urban labs around the world. It has been meeting monthly since mid-2020.
Second, within Sheffield we have created different contexts for collective response and peer learning and collective discussion with colleagues, associates and visitors. Through a process of reflection, we have been asking whether and how the crisis leads to a rethinking, reprioritisation and re-intensification of our work, and how we can mobilise existing opportunities to respond creatively.
Finally, we have engaged in individual and collective writing about the links between Covid-19 and our existing research programmes in editorials, blogs, journals and think pieces.