GoKawiilA Nature survey aims to identify the factors that are steering career directions for working scientists. Credit: Pgiam/Getty
Nature wants to hear from researchers around the world about what it feels like to work in science today. Are you burnt out? Excited about artificial intelligence? Optimistic about your future in science — or not? Take Nature’s 2026 Science Job Satisfaction Survey until 26 June.
The 15-minute survey aims to capture how scientists feel about their careers at a time of rapid change in science and society. Created in partnership with Thinks Insight & Strategy, a London-based research consultancy, its questions cover salaries and benefits, workplace culture, experiences of discrimination and harassment, attitudes towards AI and perceptions of public trust in science.
“A lot of researchers are asking themselves difficult questions right now,” says Kendall Powell, an editor for Nature’s careers team. “Is this career sustainable? Do I still see a future for myself in science? Am I making a difference? We want to understand how widespread those feelings are.”
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Nature last asked the global scientific workforce about salary and satisfaction in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the results revealed growing disillusionment. Just 47% of the more than 3,200 working scientists who responded felt optimistic about their future careers — a big drop from the 59% who said the same in 2018. This year’s survey is open to scientists working across all sectors, including academia, industry, government and non-governmental organizations.
A focus this year is on public trust in science — and who bears responsibility for strengthening it. “Researchers are increasingly being asked to engage with society in new ways, while trust in science and research budgets are shrinking in many nations,” Powell says. “We’re interested in whether scientists feel equipped and supported to do that.”