The Cultural Humility Weekend was such a thoughtful and genuinely fun couple of days.
Saturday was packed with sessions exploring networks, identity and what cultural humility actually looks like in practice. One of my favourite moments was the Lego exercise where we built models representing our motivation for choosing our degrees and applying to Laidlaw. Some creations were surprisingly profound. Others were slightly chaotic and absolutely hilarious (mine falls into this category). It was such a creative way to reflect on purpose and ambition, and it sparked conversations I do not think we would have had otherwise.
After a full day of discussion, we headed into the city for an overnight stay and then to Leeds Playhouse for A Midsummer Nights Dream, I didn’t understand a word of Shakespeare but loved it anyway!
Sunday took us to Leeds City Museum, followed by lunch and a city-wide treasure hunt. I am delighted to say my won, which we are taking as a serious achievement.
Weekends like this capture what Laidlaw is really about. Challenging yourself, learning from others, and building a community that is as reflective as it is ambitious. Very grateful to be part of it.
Hi, I’m Katie McGowan, a Psychology undergraduate at the University of Leeds and a 2025 Laidlaw Scholar.
My academic interests centre around human behaviour, social influence, and cultural psychology. This summer, I’m researching how cultural background and perceived empathy in artificial intelligence influence consumer trust — a project that brings together my fascination with social psychology and cross-cultural dynamics.
Outside of academia, I’m passionate about women’s rights, youth leadership, and community impact. I’ve volunteered with organisations including Let Me Know (LMK) and Jewish Women’s Aid (JWA), helping to raise awareness around healthy relationships and gender-based violence. I’m also a Holocaust Educational Ambassador, committed to promoting dialogue, reflection, and education around collective memory and human rights.
I currently serve as a School Representative for Psychology, advocating for students and working with staff to ensure that student feedback leads to meaningful change. Leadership, empathy, and representation are values that guide everything I do.
Outside of my academic and voluntary work, I love travel and adventure — I hold an Advanced Open Water Scuba Diving certification, and I’m always looking for new ways to explore both above and below the surface.
I'm especially interested in how research and leadership can create real-world change, and I’m always open to connecting with others who share those goals.
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