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How PhD students and other academics are fighting the mental-health crisis in science

Universities and institutions across the globe are exploring unique initiatives to help their students and staff cope with the stress of research.
  1. Shannon Hall
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Conceptual illustration showing a researcher meditating in a busy and stressful lab.

Illustration: Piotr Kowalczyk

On the first day of her class, Annika Martin asks the assembled researchers at the University of Zurich in Switzerland to roll out their yoga mats and stand with their feet spread wide apart. They place their hands on their hips before swinging their torsos down towards the mat and back up again. The pose, called ‘wild goose drinking water’ is from Lu Jong, a foundational practice in Tantrayana Buddhism.

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Nature 631, 496-498 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02225-8

Updates & Corrections

  • Correction 12 July 2024: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that Nina Effenberger was involved in a survey on graduate-student finances that won an increase in pay.

  • Correction 09 August 2024: This News feature misstated Melanie-Anne Atkins name and speciality.

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