A Nature survey goals to establish the components which might be steering profession instructions for working scientists. Credit score: Pgiam/Getty
Nature needs to listen to from researchers around the globe about what it feels prefer to work in science right now. Are you burnt out? Enthusiastic about synthetic intelligence? Optimistic about your future in science — or not? Take Nature’s 2026 Science Job Satisfaction Survey till 26 June.
The 15-minute survey goals to seize how scientists really feel about their careers at a time of fast change in science and society. Created in partnership with Thinks Perception & Technique, a London-based analysis consultancy, its questions cowl salaries and advantages, office tradition, experiences of discrimination and harassment, attitudes in direction of AI and perceptions of public belief in science.
“Loads of researchers are asking themselves troublesome questions proper now,” says Kendall Powell, an editor for Nature’s careers group. “Is that this profession sustainable? Do I nonetheless see a future for myself in science? Am I making a distinction? We wish to perceive how widespread these emotions are.”
The worldwide PhD panorama 2025
Nature final requested the worldwide scientific workforce about wage and satisfaction in 2021 in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the outcomes revealed rising disillusionment. Simply 47% of the greater than 3,200 working scientists who responded felt optimistic about their future careers — a giant drop from the 59% who stated the identical in 2018. This yr’s survey is open to scientists working throughout all sectors, together with academia, trade, authorities and non-governmental organizations.
A spotlight this yr is on public belief in science — and who bears duty for strengthening it. “Researchers are more and more being requested to have interaction with society in new methods, whereas belief in science and analysis budgets are shrinking in many countries,” Powell says. “We’re interested by whether or not scientists really feel geared up and supported to do this.”