Skip to main content Skip to navigation

From a Social Distance: Exploring the Impact of Coronavirus

During the Covid-19 pandemic, our researchers have continued to share their expertise and insight through our new series of academic vlogs. From supply chains to sleeping patterns, our academics discuss how coronavirus is changing how we live and work, in our new series, "From a Social Distance".

What does it mean to be 'productive' at work?

For many people, our jobs no longer look the same as they did a year ago. Lots of people are working from home, and without the same boundaries or external directives, we may question if our work has meaning anymore.

How has the pandemic changed our attitudes towards the value of work? Can we learn lessons from artists? Dr Chris Bilton from the Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies explores work and productivity in a time of coronavirus.

Coronavirus and its impact on our sleep

From struggling to get to sleep, to sleeping for longer with more vivid dreams, the outbreak of Covid-19 has affected many people's sleep cycles. So why is it important that we do get sufficient sleep during the pandemic? What steps can we take to improve our sleep, and how can set our sleep clock?

Hear from Dr Michelle Miller from Warwick Medical School as she discusses sleep and coronavirus.

How has Covid-19 increased plastic use?

From gloves to disposable meal boxes, coronavirus has led to increased plastic use in many people’s daily lives. There has also been a large demand for plastic PPE.

But could the pandemic result in the development of new materials that can protect both our health and the environment? How can plastic waste be processed more efficiently, even if its virus contaminated? Dr David Xie from WMG explores the impact of plastic in the pandemic, and what the future may hold for plastic waste and disposal in a post-Covid world.

How has coronavirus impacted the creative industries?

The lockdown has exposed the precarity of workers in the creative industries, with freelancers, who make up more than half the sector's workforce, hit particularly hard. So, what can we learn and why do we need to rethink the way that we value cultural and creative work?

Dr Heidi Ashton from the Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies explains how the pandemic has affected the arts and creative sector.

What does coronavirus mean for our supply chains?

Our manufacturing supply chains are critical to life, and in some instances, responded well to the pandemic - but in terms of oxygen, PPE, ventilators and hand santisers, the UK lacked capacity.

So, what can we learn and how can we make supply chains resilient to future crises? Professor Jan Godsell from WMG examines the impact of the pandemic on supply chains.

Coronavirus and the future of aviation

Professor Loizos Heracleous from Warwick Business School explains how coronavirus has affected aviation. Aviation is a systemic industry, supporting tourism, hospitality, manufacturing and several other industries. Due to the pandemic, many airlines have had to reduce both employee numbers and flights.

But can the crisis spur innovation? What does the future hold for the industry and will it fully recover?