Remote work reduces the number of major scientific discoveries and hinders the creation of important inventions, according to a new study conducted by scientists from the University of Oxford and the University of Pittsburgh. results published In the journal Nature.
The research team analyzed more than 20 million scientific articles published between 1960 and 2020. 22.5 million scientists in 3,562 provinces worked on them. They also examined four million patents obtained by 2.7 million inventors in 87,937 cities between 1976 and 2020.
The results showed that the average distance between team members increased from 100 kilometers to 1000 kilometers when preparing scientific papers, and from 250 kilometers to 750 kilometers when working on patents. Scientists and inventors working remotely are less likely to make major discoveries than their colleagues in laboratories. . It was noted that the transition to this working format after the pandemic may make it difficult to achieve groundbreaking results in the fields of science and technology.
The authors of the study suggest that increasing the productivity of scientists and inventors can be done by investing in physical infrastructure. This will help reduce travel costs and make living in other countries or cities more affordable for researchers. Additionally, physically having team members in the same room can improve the quality of communication, increasing the likelihood of making an important discovery.
Previous scientists saidwhy consultations with a doctor should not be from a distance.