University of Wollongong medical honours students have had to adapt and change their honours projects as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.
UOW medical and health sciences honours student Lillian Rowland has changed her project because she couldn’t access a lab.
Ms Rowland said she was asked to consider deferring for six months due to the impacts on the practical experiments required for her project.
The impact of COVID-19 has seen economic consequences and the loss of research positions as the Rapid Research Information Forum revealed an estimated 7,000 research-related academic staff could lose their positions.
Ms Rowland said she had changed her post-university plans due to the lack of research funding and positions available following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Universities Australia has called on the government to invest in university research to ensure positions remain available for current academics and future graduates.
The impact goes beyond funding and job security as Ms Rowland revealed the change to remote learning has decreased her motivation and impacted her mental health.
UOW medical honours students have been affected by the physical distancing restrictions brought by COVID-19.
This includes having to change their projects.
Have other honours students experienced similar impacts? #uowcreative @UOWTV #coronavirusaustralia
— Savannah Meacham (@savannahmeacham) May 20, 2020