Devi Sridhar: pandemic vitriol ‘has taken its toll’

As a matter of interest, what happens to speakers who dissent from the approved Covid narrative, including scientists and doctors?

An excellent observation: “Universities shouldn’t be creating cookie-cutter academics …We need to recognise this diversity because you cannot expect one person to do all of that, and do it well – we need a faculty that is diverse in terms of skill set and expertise.” One reason why some university leadership and management is so lacking is that jumping through the research hoops to reach professorial status is very limited preparation for senior management. Much greater diversity of talent is needed.

Nowbeing - we don't have an approved Covid narrative in academia - that is the point that Professor Sridhar makes above. We academics are supposed to 'speak truth to power'. It is difficult, it is problematic, and we often get left hanging by our institutions because they don't all grasp public engagement well. The abuse she suffered/suffers still is because some people just don't like having their views challenged, and when it comes to Covid, many such people are simply unwilling to accept reason.

MML, There’s no approved narrative? You must live in a different country than I. Universities have become echo chambers on a wide variety of subjects. Recent surveys confirm many academics now regularly self-censor.

If you don't self censor including in what you teach, you are toast. Sad but true.