Milena Popovic Samardzic: "Science has the power to unite."

In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are honored to present the insightful perspective of Ms. Milena Popovic Samardzic, an esteemed epidemiologist hailing from Montenegro. With a fervent commitment to leveraging education and science for the empowerment of individuals, Milena embodies the spirit of progress and inclusion in her pursuit of knowledge and truth.

Milena's vision extends beyond borders; she aspires for the global dissemination of ground-breaking scientific endeavours showcased during her participation to the European Union Visitors Programme. Recognising science as a unifying force that transcends cultural and geographical divides, she envisions a world where cutting-edge advancements are accessible to all, fostering collaboration and understanding on a global scale.

“My name is Milena Popovic Samardzic, and I come from Montenegro. I am an epidemiologist, and currently pursuing my doctoral studies. My primary goal is to empower people with knowledge and verified information. I believe that education is the most reliable way to fight for a better future, freedom, and tolerance. Science is the best tool to help me achieve this goal. It inspires curiosity, objectivity, and understanding. By understanding something, we can accept it, which leads to freedom in thinking and existence. I deal with science because it is the best weapon against prejudices that limit us.

During my visit to Brussels as part of the European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP), I had the chance to see some of the initiatives being worked on in the EU. I was particularly interested in the projects that concerned the use of AI in everyday medical practice, which aims to establish more accurate and faster diagnoses. I was amazed by how AI can learn from various disease models and develop predictions for the further progression of the disease in the virtual world, thereby enabling us to create prevention models and solutions. I was particularly inspired by the idea of teaching the machine to recognize the smallest changes that our eyes cannot detect, which indicate the development of a disease.

I hope that all the initiatives that I saw during my EUVP visit will be available not only in my country but worldwide. Science has the power to unite us and remove the differences that burden us. That's what science does. It unites.”