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As the world grapples with the uncertainties surrounding a global pandemic, we seek to understand more about the virus, its spread, and social and economic impacts. We also search for strategies for how we, as individuals and communities, can cope and be resilient in these challenging times.

However, as the coronavirus pandemic intensifies, so does exposure to a virulent combination of misinformation, disinformation, and amateur analysis. In this time of crisis, fact-based and research-informed commentary is necessary, highlighting the critical contribution that researchers and academics can make to informing the conversation

Since the coronavirus pandemic became an increasingly global concern in January, Queen鈥檚 researchers across disciplines have been active in offering commentary and analysis on COVID-19-related issues 鈥� from understanding symptoms and spread of the virus to the impact the pandemic is having on Canadian oil prices and the global economy.

鈥淎t Queen鈥檚, we have a wealth of leading research expertise that can be applied to how we understand the coronavirus and evaluate impacts of the crisis economically, socially, and politically,鈥� says Michael Fraser, Vice-Principal (University Relations). 鈥淜ey to our research promotion strategy and integral to our media relations approach during this time is to help our researchers share their expertise through the national and international media.鈥�

Mobilizing research: Confronting COVID-19

As part of the聽Confronting COVID-19聽series in the Gazette, as well as in an effort to build prominence for our researchers as media experts, the university鈥檚 Integrated Communications team is working daily across our research community to develop COVID-19-related stories.

The team also shares with media a growing list of Queen鈥檚 experts who are ready to comment on COVID-19 related issues. Many of these experts have been featured at the local, national, and international level, reaching millions through traditional and social platforms.

Highlights in the last few weeks include: Sharry Aiken (Law) commenting in the National Post on how聽, Duncan Hunter (Public Health Sciences) reflecting in the Globe and Mail on how聽Canadian governments have employed an earlier and more coordinated response to COVID-19 compared to the U.S., and Anne Ellis (Medicine) speaking to CTV News about聽.

Leading The Conversation聽

Queen鈥檚 researchers are also taking advantage of the university鈥檚 relationship with The Conversation, to provide expert commentary on the crisis. This news platform, which has 10 international editions, including Canada, sources content from the academic research community and delivers it directly to the public and media through Creative Commons Licensing. The Conversation is currently seeing unprecedented engagement with their sites and content.聽

As a founding member of聽The Conversation Canada, the Queen鈥檚 research community has embraced the platform as a unique tool for sharing their research expertise and engaging with the media, producing more than 225 articles with 3.5 million reads over the last two years.

Recently, Roberta Lamb (Education and Music) and Robbie MacKay (Dan School of Drama and Music) provided an analysis of聽聽 In his聽, Stephen Archer (Medicine),聽Canada Research Chair in Mitochondrial Dynamics and Translational Medicine,聽outlined how lessons learned from Canada鈥檚 favourite game can offer wisdom during the pandemic.

PhD candidate Korey Pasch (Political Studies) looked at聽, similar to experiences with other diseases, such as Ebola and SARS viruses. The Canada Research Chair in Economy and Environment, Kyla Tienhaara (School of Environmental Studies) provided commentary on the need for governments to聽consider a full green stimulus to combating the ecological crisis聽that is pending.

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