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On this Christmas Eve, I would like to spare a thought for the many scientists, researchers, & lab technicians & assistants who have been 'called up' thanks to the new #SARSCoV2 variants.
It's been a tough year & many of us had hoped this week might be a well-earned break.
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It's been a tough year & many of us had hoped this week might be a well-earned break.
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Academia/science is rarely a 9-5 job, & we're a bit famous for our tendency to overwork, but it's a rare year when evolutionary biology & phylogenetics are so urgently needed that we can't slip away for a few quiet days over Christmas!
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(see alt text for the ornament shop!)
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(see alt text for the ornament shop!)
I imagine many, like myself, are humbled & proud that we can contribute to the efforts against #COVID19 #SARSCoV2.
But it's been an incredibly long, hard year for many of us, compounded by the same restrictions, loss, & loneliness that so many have felt.
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But it's been an incredibly long, hard year for many of us, compounded by the same restrictions, loss, & loneliness that so many have felt.
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So I'm sending out strength & peace today to all my science-y colleagues who will have 1 ear on the inbox, 1 hand on the keyboard, & half a brain on the latest news this week, rather than the full 'unplugging' we might have hoped for this time of year.
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As I am for the millions of essential workers & healthcare workers, who work through Christmas *every* year but will no doubt be feeling extra strain after a year of carrying so much of the load of 2020 & the sadness & desperation it has brought so many.
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Be kind to yourself the next few days. Take time to enjoy a glass of something warm (or something strong!). Unplug as much as you can. Zoom with family and friends. Laugh. Spend a quiet evening enjoying beautiful lights.
Stay warm. Stay healthy. Stay strong.
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Stay warm. Stay healthy. Stay strong.
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