Women take centre stage at ground breaking healthcare conference

Over 50% of the speakers are prominent females in the scientific healthcare field at the ‘World Research and Innovation Congress – Pioneers in Healthcare’ event, Steigenberger Grandhotel, Brussels, 5 and 6 June, 2013.

Despite playing a significant role in science and healthcare throughout the ages, women globally are under-represented in this sector. A recent article in Nature magazine explains that there is still a scientific ‘gender gap’ with women continuing to face discrimination including disparities in pay and funding. (Helen Shen, 6/3/13)

Professor Anne Glover, Chief Scientific Adviser to the President of the European Commission, is the keynote speaker on the session Women in Science, addressing some of the key challenges in attracting women to this sector. Professor Glover will be joined by Professor Teresa Lago, Universidade do Porto, Portugal, founding member of the ERC Scientific Council and former Chair of the ERC gender balance working group.

Professor Glover says “While the 19th Century has been the Age of Engineering and the 20th Century the one of Chemistry and Physics, the 21st Century is going to be the Age of Biology. Facing the challenges of an Ageing Society in Europe and still major basic health challenges in the Developing World, research helps to come up with solutions for our well-being. This includes exciting developments in areas such as synthetic biology, personalised medicine, vaccine research and other fields. The presentation will highlight in particular how important it is to enthuse young people to choose a career in health science.”

Another eminent speaker at the event is Professor Marleen Temmerman who was appointed Director of the Department of Reproductive Health and Research and the UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction in the Family, Women’s and Children’s Health Cluster in October 2012. She is also a Senator in the Belgium Parliament. Focusing on women’s reproductive health, Professor Temmerman will be speaking on how to establish and nurture strong networks in this field of work.

Other female speakers at the event include:

• Dr Johanna Adami, Director and Head of Health Division, Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems

• Dr Vanessa Campo-Ruiz, Science Officer to the Chief Executive of the European Science Foundation

• Dr Claire McNulty, Science Director for the British Council

• Dr Roxanne Deslauriers, Secretary General of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance (ISMAR)

The conference focuses on peer-to-peer learning and collaborating, helping to build delegate’s knowledge and networks for future projects.

For more information please go to: www.worldresearchcongress.com

Special offer to readers: Use code AND13 to get £100 discount off the full delegate fee when you register.