Mitigating losses: how scientific organisations can help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early-career researchers

Scientific collaborations among nations to address common problems and to build international partnerships as part of science diplomacy is a well-established notion. The international flow of people and ideas has played an important role in the advancement of the ‘Sciences’ and the current pandemic scenario has drawn attention towards the genuine need for a stronger role of science diplomacy, science advice and science communication. In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, visible interactions across science, policy, science communication to the public and diplomacy worldwide have promptly emerged. These interactions have benefited primarily the disciplines of knowledge that are directly informing the pandemic response, while other scientific fields have been relegated. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on scientists of all disciplines and from all world regions are discussed here, with a focus on early-career researchers (ECRs), as a vulnerable population in the research system. Young academies and ECR-driven organisations could suggest ECR-powered solutions and actions that could have the potential to mitigate these effects on ECRs working on disciplines not related to the pandemic response. In relation with governments and other scientific organisations, they can have an impact on strengthening and creating fairer scientific systems for ECRs at the national, regional, and global level

Mitigating losses: how scientific organisations can help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early-career researchers.

Scientific collaborations among nations to address common problems and to build international partnerships as part of science diplomacy is a well-established notion. The international flow of people and ideas has played an important role in the advancement of the 'Sciences' and the current pandemic scenario has drawn attention towards the genuine need for a stronger role of science diplomacy, science advice and science communication. In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, visible interactions across science, policy, science communication to the public and diplomacy worldwide have promptly emerged. These interactions have benefited primarily the disciplines of knowledge that are directly informing the pandemic response, while other scientific fields have been relegated. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on scientists of all disciplines and from all world regions are discussed here, with a focus on early-career researchers (ECRs), as a vulnerable population in the research system. Young academies and ECR-driven organisations could suggest ECR-powered solutions and actions that could have the potential to mitigate these effects on ECRs working on disciplines not related to the pandemic response. In relation with governments and other scientific organisations, they can have an impact on strengthening and creating fairer scientific systems for ECRs at the national, regional, and global level

DataSheet1_Mononuclear manganese complexes as hydrogen evolving catalysts.pdf

Molecular hydrogen (H2) is one of the pillars of future non-fossil energy supply. In the quest for alternative, non-precious metal catalysts for hydrogen generation to replace platinum, biological systems such as the enzyme hydrogenase serve as a blueprint. By taking inspiration from the bio-system, mostly nickel- or iron-based catalysts were explored so far. Manganese is a known oxygen-reducing catalyst but has received much less attention for its ability to reduce protons in acidic media. Here, the synthesis, characterization, and reaction mechanisms of a series of four mono-nuclear Mn(I) complexes in terms of their catalytic performance are reported. The effect of the variation of equatorial and axial ligands in their first and second coordination spheres was assessed pertaining to their control of the turnover frequencies and overpotentials. All four complexes show reactivity and reduce protons in acidic media to release molecular hydrogen H2. Quantum chemical studies were able to assign and interpret spectral characterizations from UV–Vis and electrochemistry and rationalize the reaction mechanism. Two feasible reaction mechanisms of electrochemical (E) and protonation (C) steps were compared. Quantum chemical studies can assign peaks in the cyclic voltammetry to structural changes of the complex during the reaction. The first one-electron reduction is essential to generate an open ligand-based site for protonation. The distorted octahedral Mn complexes possess an inverted second one-electron redox potential which is a pre-requisite for a swift and facile release of molecular hydrogen. This series on manganese catalysts extends the range of elements of the periodic table which are able to catalyze the hydrogen evolution reaction and will be explored further.</p

DataSheet2_Mononuclear manganese complexes as hydrogen evolving catalysts.pdf

Molecular hydrogen (H2) is one of the pillars of future non-fossil energy supply. In the quest for alternative, non-precious metal catalysts for hydrogen generation to replace platinum, biological systems such as the enzyme hydrogenase serve as a blueprint. By taking inspiration from the bio-system, mostly nickel- or iron-based catalysts were explored so far. Manganese is a known oxygen-reducing catalyst but has received much less attention for its ability to reduce protons in acidic media. Here, the synthesis, characterization, and reaction mechanisms of a series of four mono-nuclear Mn(I) complexes in terms of their catalytic performance are reported. The effect of the variation of equatorial and axial ligands in their first and second coordination spheres was assessed pertaining to their control of the turnover frequencies and overpotentials. All four complexes show reactivity and reduce protons in acidic media to release molecular hydrogen H2. Quantum chemical studies were able to assign and interpret spectral characterizations from UV–Vis and electrochemistry and rationalize the reaction mechanism. Two feasible reaction mechanisms of electrochemical (E) and protonation (C) steps were compared. Quantum chemical studies can assign peaks in the cyclic voltammetry to structural changes of the complex during the reaction. The first one-electron reduction is essential to generate an open ligand-based site for protonation. The distorted octahedral Mn complexes possess an inverted second one-electron redox potential which is a pre-requisite for a swift and facile release of molecular hydrogen. This series on manganese catalysts extends the range of elements of the periodic table which are able to catalyze the hydrogen evolution reaction and will be explored further.</p