Transformative innovation demands gender equity in STEM, say Merck leaders during National Science Week

In a captivating dialogue that delves deep into the intriguing convergence of innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), and gender equity within the STEM landscape, Louise Young, Associate Medical Director in Oncology, at Merck Healthcare and Helen Bazgalovski, Digital Sales Lead at Merck Life Sciences, joined Health Industry Hub during the National Science Week series of interviews.

In reflecting on the theme of Innovation: Powering Future Industries, Helen said “As a STEM graduate in biotechnology, my passion for STEM means that I’m always drawn to the latest breakthroughs and developments, including artificial intelligence (AI). In my role at Merck, I get to empower the researchers and innovators to solve the toughest problems in life sciences.”

The interview took a thought-provoking turn, addressing the gender disparity in STEM careers. Despite the encouraging rise of female STEM students, the representation of women in STEM careers remains disproportionately low. Louise and Helen delved into multifaceted factors, dissecting the roots of this inequity while reflecting on its evolution over the past two decades.

When asked about Merck’s initiatives, the duo revealed the company’s multi-faceted approach to advancing gender equity in STEM.

The interview concluded with a forward-looking perspective on how gender equity in STEM will shape future innovation at Merck. Louise and Helen underlined the importance of diverse perspectives in driving transformative progress, and they expressed confidence in the positive impact that gender equity will have on the company’s problem-solving capabilities.

“Having our focus on gender equity in STEM is going to increase the intellectual capital at Merck and having the diversity will bring the different perspectives needed to find novel solutions to the current challenges in healthcare,” said Louise.

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