to continue working in the fields they love . There has been a greater appreciation for front line workers and scientists across the globe and that in itself is encouraging . I am hoping that in the near future , the salaries of scientists doing bench work in the laboratories can be raised as they have been equally monumental in this journey to save lives .
How have you been coping with quarantine and all of the work you have been doing ? What kinds of things do you like to do to unwind and protect your mental well-being ?
Dr . Bishara : Quarantine for me has been a mix of emotions , as I am sure it has for many . Although there was an initial uncertainty with my husband being on the frontline , the extra time I had allowed me to not only focus on my research but to spend more time with my three children . We have found creative ways to keep busy and I have also had time to catch up on years of missed sleep ! I have also been catching up on books that I ’ ve been wanting to read which has been great . The quarantine has allowed me to appreciate the small things in life and to value the importance of a healthy diet .
Dr . Sidime : Being in quarantine has given me the opportunity to dedicate more time to my science tutoring and mentoring business for high schoolers , Ekarus . Prior to being quarantined , I spent a great deal of time with my high school students in the lab conducting research . Now , we have transitioned to conducting research online and it has brought on new ventures and opportunities to explore research in different ways .
In addition , our team that wrote the original COVID-19 article is currently working on another publication on COVID-19 that we are excited to put out soon . When I want to unwind , a good strong cup of Earl Grey tea and a book by Charles Dickens or Jane Austen normally does the trick .