Global events—from political unrest to funding cuts—can send ripples through research labs, affecting morale and productivity, writes NG Boeck. Drawing on insights from principal investigators worldwide, the author explores how leaders in various disciplines can foster safe, supportive lab spaces when external crises intrude. To distill findings from these conversations, Boeck highlights five key practices for navigating difficult lab team conversations: acknowledging distressing news, creating informal spaces for open dialogue, checking in individually with team members, providing reassurance about research continuity, and modeling resilience through candid conversations about mental health.
Nature
