The Intersectoral Student Committee of the Fonds de recherche du Québec launched COMPEER, a Concordat on Mitigating COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on Research.

COMPEER is a grassroots initiative that seeks to support the next generation of researchers all around the world in the context of the social and health crisis that we are all experiencing and that seriously affects all research activities. We aim to ensure that COVID-19 impacts are mitigated and that the crisis does not create undue divisions and inequity between people. Further, we ardently strive and commit to contributing to turning this crisis into an opportunity to do research differently and to enhance the academic experience for all.

COMPEER consists of 38 recommendations addressed to different actors playing a role in research. The recommendations emphasize the need to consider the differential effects of COVID-19 across jurisdictions, gender, disciplines, institutions, research subjects, as well as career stages and aspirations.

Today, we are sharing this initiative in order to encourage you to develop as well as apply clear and fair guidelines. The objective is to avoid bias and inaccuracies and to take into account the broad implications of the crisis on research careers, particularly when assessing individuals’ merits.

We, therefore, invite your organization to draw inspiration from COMPEER’s recommendations and to share it. By clicking here, you will find materials that you can use to help us promote the initiative for the benefit of the next generation of researchers. 

Do not hesitate to contact the committee if you have any questions.