Today, 11 February, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science by highlighting the experiences, achievements, and challenges of women in research. To mark the occasion, UNU-MERIT’s Communications Officer, Arsh Ajmera, sat down with Dr Ortrun Merkle to discuss her academic journey, the role of women in science, and what institutions can do to accelerate gender equity in research and policymaking.
In this conversation, Dr Merkle touches on the following topics:
- What inspired her to pursue academic research and how her background shaped her journey
- How collaborations with global institutions have influenced her perspective on women’s roles in science, research, and technology
- The role of governance in fostering equity and how organisations like UNU, UNESCO, and UN Women can accelerate change
- A key message for women breaking barriers in science today