MSD aims to make a positive contribution to its local communities by supporting a wide range of charitable, educational and environmental initiatives worldwide. Some examples of these follow below:

MSD supported the South Asian tsunami relief effort in January 2005 by identifying appropriate charitable requests and initiatives, and developing activities to raise further funds. To date this has included:

• Participation in the Matching Funds Programme for Employees
• A product donation of Pepcid to Sri Lanka via International Health Partners
• Charitable donation to support local fund raising activities

MSD strives to be a ‘Neighbour of Choice’ in the local communities where it is based.

In Cramlington, Northumberland, MSD’s Neighbour of Choice activities focus on partnership enterprises with local schools (in particular supporting science education initiatives), and enhancing the site’s environmental activities within the community. These include:

• Participation in regional science/chemistry fairs
• Organisation of lectures/site tours/workshops for students promoting the study of science
• Providing careers workshops and attending careers fairs throughout the North East promoting the pharmaceutical industry and the careers available within the industry
• An annual Merck Sharp & Dohme Northumberland Inter School Chemistry Competition
• Providing work experience to students
• Donation of equipment to partner schools and community groups
• Support in establishing the local Science College (£18k in cash and donations) as well as on-going participation on the science college board of governors
• Participation in the local Young Foresight and Young Enterprise initiatives
• Providing school science clubs for Years 9 and 10 to spark an interest in budding scientists
• Piloting the Primary Science Enhancement Project in the North East which supports science teaching in primary schools
• Site representation on local environmental committees
• Training and supporting the site’s Science & Engineering Ambassadors in their activities with schools
• Runner up in the Science & Engineering Ambassador of the Year Award 2005
• 2004 winner of the North East Company of the Year Award from Government Agency SETPOINT
• 2005 runner up in the North East Company of the Year Awards
• Creating Merck Champions for the Environment projects for MSD volunteers and local environmental groups to work on together for the benefit of the community
• And the publicising of joint MSD/community activities

Primary Schools Programme

MSD in Hoddesdon has launched a project to provide eight local primary schools with digital microscopes, plus associated software and training. The scheme, organised by MSD in conjunction with SETPOINT, an educational charity, aims to inspire young people about science-related subjects. The programme provides each school with installation and training, as well as membership to the Association of Science Education (ASE), the teachers’ professional association for Science.

John Warner Student Visit

In June 2006, the Hoddesdon site welcomed fourteen A-level chemistry students from the nearby John Warner School, to tour its facilities and meet with scientists. A site visit comprises a compulsory part of the students’ course and this provided an excellent opportunity for the students to see firsthand how chemical reactions are scaled up for industrial manufacture.