LiA Week 1 - The Baltic Is Right There

I just finished the first week of my Leadership in Action Project called "Baltic Sea for Young People: from classroom lessons to scalable impact."

Mar 30, 2026

Szymon Kwidzinski

Student, Imperial College Lodon

Like Be the first to like this

This week was all about arriving, listening, and getting oriented. I met my project coordinator, Natalia Filipowicz, at Państwowe Liceum Sztuk Plastycznych in Gdynia (the art school that will be the main base for my LiA). She showed me around the school, introduced me to some of the students, and we talked through how the sessions could fit into the school's rhythm. I also walked down to the Baltic coastline nearby, which felt like a good reminder of why this project exists; the sea is right there, part of daily life, but not always part of the classroom conversation. Most of this week was about building trust and understanding the context before jumping into content. It already feels different from anything I've done at university.

Szymon Kwidzinski

Student, Imperial College Lodon

I’m a Laidlaw Scholar at Imperial College London, studying Economics, Finance and Data Science, with a focus on applying data and economic tools to solve global environmental challenges.

As Founder of See the Sea, I lead a youth-driven initiative protecting the Baltic Sea through scientific education, community engagement, and policy advocacy: recognized with national awards and backed by successful fundraising campaigns.

I’m currently creating a short film about the Baltic, exploring fifty years of environmental and social change through a blend of storytelling and visual art. The production is planned for Summer 2025.

I’m passionate about sustainable finance, climate data, and storytelling that drives impact. Through the Laidlaw network, I hope to connect with fellow scholars working at the intersection of leadership, science, and global change.