Research after Corona: Findings for the future of society!

Research after Corona: Findings for the future of society!

The corona pandemic has had a lasting impact not only on medical, but also on social and economic structures worldwide. A revised new edition of a collection of articles on Covid-19 is planned for 2025 in order to comprehensively shed light on the social, political and economic consequences of the pandemic. As the Bauhaus University Weimar reports, current research results and new perspectives should be presented in this context. Authors are invited to submit practice-oriented essays that highlight findings from a wide range of disciplines on the Corona crisis and potential future pandemics.

Particular attention should be paid to the opportunities and risks of digital communication technologies as well as the implications for pedagogy and community building. Submitted contributions are welcome until April 30, 2025 and will be assessed anonymously in the peer review process. The revised collection is scheduled to be published in December 2025.

Social impact in focus

The diverse burdens caused by special working conditions during the pandemic are a central topic of current research. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) funds social science and humanities research projects to overcome these challenges. A focus is on developing solutions for future crises in order to reduce the negative social impacts.

A study presented at a recent interim conference shows that social relationships have been crucial to well-being during the pandemic. Future crises require targeted support of social spaces in order to counteract the burdens. It turned out that well-thought-out organizational structures and networks are necessary to prevent social problems, especially in times of crisis.

Democracy and social participation

A worrying finding shows that trust in politics fell during the pandemic. This encouraged an increase in conspiracy narratives and anti-democratic attitudes. About a third of those surveyed felt vulnerable to such narratives. The BMBF emphasizes that democratic education and discussion spaces must be developed to counteract these negative developments.

Insights into 18 funded projects illustrate the depth and complexity of the challenges. From the study of long-term social relationships to the stigmatization of sections of the population to the special pressures on basic workers: numerous topics are examined. Projects like “LoneCOVID” analyze the impact of the pandemic on trust in politics and science, while the “Co-Care” study looks at the visibility of caring work. “CoESI” also sheds light on the effects on social integration in old age.

In summary, it can be said that the scientific examination of the consequences of the pandemic remains of great importance. These research efforts are crucial not only for understanding the past, but also for preventing future crises and developing stable social structures. The findings from the corona pandemic will accompany us in the long term and are already an indispensable part of the social and political agenda.