It is a hard time to be a scientist...

I feel like nothing has prepared me for what we are facing right now. I've been privileged to have lots of training on how to take on the world, the workplace, but I'm feeling slightly discouraged at the moment. Never have I seen the public attack scientists so hard. Usually people are very interested in what I do. "That's cool!" " You get to save lives!" Now we have all sorts of demands. Can't complete the testing because we can't get the consumables fast enough. Can't manufacture the medicine because a part broke and it needs to be shipped from another country. You also might come into work to find the equipment you were supposed to be running on that day, has already been stolen and in use by someone else. You might even not have the right size PPE to do your work as you normally would. You might even be working an off-shift due to capacity issues. Then when the testing is done, the 16 hour days have been put in, just so everyone can be comfortable as quick as possible. Or, you train that employee on a critical task, you publish that report you've been slaving over, you get the data where it needs to go. All while wearing your mask because it's lab or office area protocol, all while you are having to make more happen with less resources. You may have even had COVID yourself, you're still recovering, and these long hours are getting to you and you worry about getting sick again. "You are just fear mongering! Stop living in fear and live your life!" "Oh, that data can't be true, you need to do something differently." I wish my side eye look would be enough to express all my feelings about this, but it's not. I wish it was that easy, public. Where's the glory in keeping informed anymore? There is no appreciation for all the work we have been doing when I keep seeing things like this. Safety has gone out the window, people's interest in well being does not seem to be important right now to them either. Thank a scientist, we are working exceptionally hard to keep you safe and healthy.