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theLAB

The Logos Academic Blog

Lockdown Diaries: Anthony Royle, University of Glasgow

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As a father of four children between the ages of 6 and 13, it was challenging during the early stages of the lockdown period to engage with my studies as a PhD student as well as assist my children with their learning.

In hindsight, knowing now the uncertainty of the pandemic and future lockdowns, I would have deferred my studies for six months. Yet, by grace and much support from my wife and my parents who now live with us, I have managed to sneak away for short periods of the day and have managed to make some progress with my work including some extra circular projects.

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Lockdown Diaries: Andy Byers, St John’s College, Durham University

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In the first half of my scholarly vocation during the pandemic I was occupied with the rushed development new competencies in learning and teaching technologies. And, of course, there was Zoom: meetings, seminars, tutorials, and more. With four children, there was the managing of both educational and recreational activities.

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Lockdown Diary: Grace Emmett, King’s College London

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This year has been strange for all of us and unnerving in its constant uncertainty. I spent the majority of 2020 writing up my PhD thesis, which I submitted at the beginning of November. The process of writing up certainly did not pan out in the way I imagined with minimal library access and hardly any face-to-face interaction with my colleagues.

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Read, Write, Run, Pray: A Scholar’s Approach to 2021

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Photo: Tavis Bohlinger

The New Year began for those of us in the UK with a new lockdown fresh out of the gates. We are like toddlers struggling up the steps to the top of a slide only to arrive at a higher, scarier ascent. Where did the slide go?

On Monday morning, friends of mine returned to work (both online and in the office), only to be told that same evening that they could not leave their homes, nor could their children go to school the next day (after 2 weeks of Christmas break). For us scholars and pastors, finding time to study is never easy, but the pandemic makes it nearly impossible.

2021 begins on a low.

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Lockdown Diary: Sean Adams, University of Glasgow

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My lockdown has been hard. At first, it was OK and even a bit nice being around my family. However, the pressures of working, homeschooling, chores, etc. became increasingly stressful.

Things came to a head in June when I contratracted stress-induced shingles and my depression worsened. It has been a slow recovery. I am on research leave this semester, so I am trying to get work done, but concentration is low. I am feeling disappointed that I am not achieving what I hoped to as I was looking forward to this leave for a few years.

The lockdown has not been all bad; I have gotten to know my neighbours much better and am working on a more sustainable pace.

Sean A. Adams is Senior Lecturer in New Testament and Ancient Culture at the University of Glasgow.

Lockdown Diary: Dr. Dorothea Bertschmann, College of the Resurrection

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I am very fortunate that so far we can continue face to face teaching at our small theological College. Seeing real people is a lifeline for me.

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Lockdown Diary: Prof John Barclay, Durham University

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Life in lockdown is exhausting. Planning, organising, and administering online teaching is sapping all the mental energy and time at the moment, while teaching is less rewarding than usual, without significant face-to-face interaction. (God so loved the world, that he did not Zoom us …).

Also the drama, frustration and anxiety caused by the news takes up so much mental and emotional space, that it is hard to think clearly and well. The result is that there is, for me at least, very little reading/research and no extended writing taking place at all.

On the plus side, the online world allows international interaction across continents without the hassle, pollution, and expense of travel. But if this goes on long, we will find ourselves with less and less to say to each other, and unable to make meaningful new scholarly relationships. An online conference is not a patch on the real thing!

John M. G. Barclay is the Lightfoot Professor of Divinity at Durham University.