The COVID-19 pandemic is painful but it is also a rare opportunity for large-scale impact and meaningful work. It is time to go global with your skills and solutions to help this pandemic in any way you can. Join the forces. Specifically, I share two opportunities below, one as a scientist and the other if you have COVID-like symptoms.

Opportunity

I love problems, a real challenge. Although I suffer like anyone else through them, what I love about problems is that they are also opportunities.

Opportunity to help, to grow, and to change. To be relevant and for great impact. Opportunity to be of service, to be useful!

Think about it. You can have an impact in this world! Your existence can mean something on a larger scale. We always mean something to our friends and family but how often do you get a chance to mean something to the entire world? 

 That’s what this is, right? A large-scale issue. There is a problem in the WORLD right now. People on the entire planet are in trouble and having all sorts of problems. This is a RARE opportunity and we have the chance to SERVE in a big way during our lifetime. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is not just some story told by a grandparent. This is OUR STORY. Our collective story.

WE get to tell our grandchildren about this, about the time when there was a lockdown because of a dangerous disease. When we lived in a terrible recession and had to get through a crisis. 

CRISIS IS HERE. What are you doing about it?

Meaningful Work 

There are urgent problems right now. Like, helping the people on the front line. Can you do anything to help them? They are not bored, they are overwhelmed. They are putting their lives in danger in the service of others. 

What can we do for them? 

We need to drop everything, take a step back, and think about that. We need them and they need us. So again, let’s do it together. Having an opportunity to help people who don’t have the luxury of telework right now would be such an honor. That would be meaningful work and an opportunity of a lifetime. Recognize how you can help and seize your chance to do so.

COVID-19 National Scientist Volunteer Database

If you are a scientist, you can join the COVID-19 National Scientist Volunteer Database. This is a database of 9,000 scientists from all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam who are eager to volunteer our time, expertise, equipment, and consumables to help you respond to the COVID-19 crisis. We have aggregated our contact information, locations, and skills sets into this easy-to-use centralized database. Our members include experts in scientific testing, bioinformatics, and data management, as well as key contacts willing to donate lab space and testing supplies. A preview of the database with contact information redacted can be found here.

I joined the database to help out with anything I can although I did not train in RNA viruses – or any viruses. But, I can analyze the data if they want me to, do research, and in the meantime, I am going to try and learn about RNA viruses as well.

COVID-19 Research

If you have COVID-like symptoms, you can participate in this active research to help stop COVID-19: https://www.helpstopcovid19.com

I have been providing them with my data each week. I hope it helps.

Besides being an opportunity of a lifetime to be really useful and to do meaningful work, the COVID-19 pandemic will also force you to change your life. I wrote about the need for pandemic-proofing your life in my last article. Hopefully what that means is your life takes new shape that ultimately improves it permanently.

Uncertain times call for pandemic-proofing your life

As far as what to do about your own personal health, don’t listen to anyone but the official sources such as the CDC and your doctor.

Please share any comments and/or ways to help this pandemic.