Just like that, another year has come and gone, and we are yet again at a fresh start. While every day is a new beginning, there is something more emphatic about the year turning anew that inspires us to reflect and hope. There are many of us who have suffered loss in some form this year. Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a global loss of over 5 million lives. There has also been a doubling of symptoms of anxiety, symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, and stress-related symptoms since the pandemic began. Burnout has led to “the great resignation”, with 4.5 million Americans quitting their jobs in November 2021 alone, and 38 million+ Americans quitting their jobs through the end of 2021.
On the flipside, the lockdowns in 2020 and the sporadic two-week quarantines in 2021 have allowed time for introspection, and an opportunity for many people to slow down the pace of their lives. The lockdowns have allowed us to get to know ourselves better (or recover from COVID), reawaken interests that brought us joy, and for many, the lockdowns have inspired us to explore new hobbies or pick up a new skill or furry friend. Although many of us have been physically isolated, we’ve had shared experiences (remember when we were all baking banana bread in 2020?) The pandemic has forced us to reassess our priorities, hold our loved ones close, and refocus on our physical and mental well-being.
People have been relying on effective science communication more than ever to inform their decisions on whether or not to take the various available vaccinations, information on COVID symptoms, the emerging variants, and more. Science communication has taken the forefront, and science communicators have had more responsibility placed on their shoulders to ensure that they convey scientific information simply and accurately. Unfortunately, this effort hasn’t been enough to combat the pandemic of misinformation that has also spread nearly as fast at the COVID-19 pandemic itself. To try and do our part to establish more trust in science, familiarity with scientists behind the science, and the students training to be the next generation of scientists, in late 2021, Pharm SciComm Society was born.
The members of the Pharm SciComm Society team all took a moment to share their reflections on 2021 and hopes for 2022.
Lara says: “If I had to describe 2021 in one word, it would probably be “stagnant.” Most of the year felt much like it wasn’t a new year at all––as if we were all still stuck in 2020. With each step forward, we seemed to take at least one step back. My biggest hope for 2022 is that we can finally take that second step forward and just keep putting one foot in front of the other, building momentum towards getting out of this pandemic.”
Nina reflects; “2021 was a year of uncertainty. We entered in the midst of a pandemic yet welcomed the new year with high hopes. We celebrated as the vaccine became more widely available. We also watched the scientific method unfold in real time – and established Pharm SciComm to make it easier to follow.
There were so many notable events that it’s difficult to believe they all occurred in just 365 days. But in a few words, the year was exciting and unexpected. It was also frightening, yet hopeful. In summary, 2021 was surprising. Many were excited to welcome a year that would be better than 2020. But we did not expect the pandemic to last this long. The quick emergence of new variants was frightening but we were hopeful that in just a few more months, we could return to normalcy. I’m still hopeful that this is in our future.
Despite the plethora of discouraging news, 2021 was a year of scientific achievement. We saw multiple COVID-19 vaccines become available to the public and earn FDA approval. We watched NASA’s Perseverance rover land on the surface of Mars! We even witnessed the first successful kidney transplant using a non-human organ. Now that science has taken the spotlight for over a year, I expect to see many more achievements like these in 2022.
There were many lessons learned last year, but the most beneficial thing I learned was to be the best version of myself. Instead of striving for perfection which is unattainable, I simply tried to do my best. Given the current situation, that might be all we can do. We are all capable of so much more than we think.”
And, last but not least, Jamie states: “Confusing, novel, hopeful, exhausting, replay. People are confused with how the pandemic could develop, and how it will continue to impact the economics and different aspects of life. It was a year that novel technologies were used – such as mRNA vaccines – which saved tens of thousands of lives. So, everything was hopeful when the vaccines started to work on decreasing the infected individuals from COVID-19. At the same time, it was also an exhausting year for people to suffer and get disappointed again when the pandemic prevails with the mutant variants spreading rapidly now. Replay and replay, like nothing changed after all the efforts. Last year was a year of challenges, globally during the pandemic, and personally, as I focused on passing the stressful qualifying exam. This year will be a year to accomplish what was left behind last year. The world still needs to control the pandemic, and with the newly-developed pills against COVID-19 from Pfizer and Merck, we have hope again. Personally, I also need to defend my proposal and I’m trying to publish my first first-authored paper in 2022. A crisis is also a chance – for people to adapt to the rapid-changing world. Good luck everyone!”
We wait and hope with bated breath that 2022 holds more moments of joy and more moments of true happiness. We hope to leave behind the loss that has defined 2020 and 2021 and carry with us the lessons we have learned through this experience. We hope that we not only emerge more resilient, but also more empathetic. 2022 may continue to challenge us in new ways, but by standing firm, remembering to be kind to one another, and always striving to do our best– I am sure 2022 will be filled with stories of strength, triumph, advancements, joy, and so much love.