Abstract
COVID-19 has directly impacted the
scientific enterprise and higher education. During times of high stress or
disaster, adaptability and resiliency directly impact an individual’s mental
health. There is a lack of research about the experiences of agricultural and
natural resource scientists and students during the pandemic. The purpose of
the study was to explore the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural and natural
resource scientists, graduate students, and the scientific enterprise at a land
grant university. Using a podcast ethnographic approach to analyze a COVID-19
focused series of the [Streaming Science] podcast, this study found the
pandemic halted many scientists’ research projects, required instructors to
engage with their students online, increased time spent with family, and
created an added awareness of student wellbeing and mental health.