SustainablyAlpha January Edition

retained for immediate success in exams
rather than deep understanding and
application.Consequently, the true essence
of education, which involves critical thinking,
problem-solving, and absorption of
knowledge, seemed to dissipate in the face
of newfound convenience and decreased
accountability. The result was an academic
environment lacking the substance and
quality necessary for holistic development.
To address this issue, it is crucial for
educational institutions and policymakers to
find innovative solutions. Stricter guidelines
and technologies that can detect and prevent
cheating during virtual exams must be
implemented. Moreover, teachers and
educators should emphasize the importance
of integrity, ethics, and long-term learning
goals to students, instilling values that go
beyond the immediate challenge of remote
education.In addition, measures must be
taken to ensure that students are actively
engaged in the learning process, fostering
curiosity and intrinsic motivation. Employing
interactive and collaborative methods
through virtual platforms can enhance
participation and promote a deeper
understanding of the subject matter. By
cultivating a culture of academic integrity
and embracing effective teaching practices,
we can overcome the negative impact of the
digital transition on student's learning and
overall educational experience in a post-
COVID world.
Preparedness for future
threats
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the
relevance of multidisciplinary basic science
to understand phenomena and find
solutions. The countries that have
maintained a long-term investment in basic
science were better prepared. Better basic
knowledge of the viruses and pathogens, in
general, has already led and will lead to the
efficient development of vaccines, diagnostic
tests, antiviral drugs or new treatments to
reduce disease severity, also, it will help the
governments to control the pandemic. Basic
research leading to a better knowledge of
the populations affected and the biology of
pathogens, their ability to counteract the
immune response, the mechanisms leading
to severe pathology and animal models to
understand the mechanisms of virulence are
essential to prepare the world for a new
pandemic. A special focus should be on
studies of emergent viruses and pathogens
that may transmit from animals to humans
or pathogens that may spread to new
regions due to climate warming.
Making scientific progress available to
everyone is required to control new
pandemics in the future. Sharing data, in
general, and genome sequencing data, in
particular, in the COVID-19 pandemic has
demonstrated the value of open science to
improve treatments, speed up vaccine
development through sharing of the main
immune targets of SARS-CoV2 and control
new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
Similarly, sharing new advances, such as
diagnostics and basic knowledge of the
pathogen, is essential to move forward the
identification of pathogens and means to
control pandemics.
Conclusion
As long and dreadful these three years of
the pandemic were, we've learnt a lot. This
article overviewed the major challenges that
were faced during the lockdown and what
together as a world we learnt. From the
implementation of technology, to the
importance of investing in a fast responding
healthcare system, to following mandated
pandemic protocols efficiently, the COVID-19
pandemic has taught us a major portion of
what we now need to know if a threat does
supposedly affect us in the future.
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