Exploring scientists’ working timetable: A global survey

•Using realtime downloading data of scientific literature, we make a global survey about scientist’ working habits.•Scientists today are often working overtime.•Scientists in different countries have different working patterns.•Besides different working cultures, social factors could affect scientists’ research activities and working patterns.

In our previous study (Wang et al., 2012), we analyzed scientists’ working timetable of 3 countries, using realtime downloading data of scientific literatures. In this paper, we make a through analysis about global scientists’ working habits. Top 30 countries/territories from Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, Latin America and Africa are selected as representatives and analyzed in detail. Regional differences for scientists’ working habits exists in different countries. Besides different working cultures, social factors could affect scientists’ research activities and working patterns. Nevertheless, a common conclusion is that scientists today are often working overtime. Although scientists may feel engaged and fulfilled about their hard working, working too much still warns us to reconsider the work–life balance.

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