https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/for-budding-researchers-like-me-covid-19-is-a-lesson-in-science-communication/

As a microbiology PhD student, I spend the majority of my time in a windowless lab counting viruses in biological samples—specifically in genetically modified mosquitoes. I’ve rarely discussed my work with my family and friends outside of science because they don’t care to know, and I don’t care to explain. But that changed when a viral outbreak upended everyone’s way of life, and scientific researchers were forced to explain what is happening on the national stage—sometimes having to delicate set the record straight when politicians get things wrong.

In my usually quiet lab, local media outlets have swarmed to interview professors working with the virus and to get cliché film clips of staged scientific research. In my virology class, every lecture is now about coronaviruses. Classes, thesis defenses and student seminars have all been moved online. My peers and I are scrambling to try and finish experiments before all university research activities shut down, worried about graduation timelines. Many students work in our biosafety level 3 lab with pathogens that require the gear that would also protect us from the coronavirus—but we continue to get email reminders that there are N95 respirator shortages, and to limit usage in the lab only for absolutely essential duties.